Abstract
Effects of caffeine on methyl methanesulfonate (MMS)-induced embryolethality and chromosomal aberrations in hepatocytes of mouse embryos were examined. MMS was given intraperitoneally but caffeine subcutaneously on day 12 of gestation. Embryolethality was checked on day 18 of gestation but chromosomal aberrations at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 hours after administration of drugs. The dose of MMS was chosen, which caused severe embryolethality but not any observed chromosomal aberrations. The simultaneous administration of caffeine reduced the embryolethality of MMS while the frequency of chromosomal aberrations increased significantly. The reduction of the embryolethality of MMS may be ascribe to the toxic effects of MMS which must be antagonized by caffeine.
