Genotoxicity and transmission electron microscopy studies of molybdocene dichloride.

The cytotoxic effects of molybdocene dichloride (Cp(2)MoCl(2)) were investigated in V79 Chinese hamster lung cells using the micronucleus assay. Cp(2)MoCl(2) produced significant genotoxic damage whereby 0.2micronuclei/1000 binucleated cells were induced per muM of Cp(2)MoCl(2). Transmission electron microscopic analysis of thin-sectioned cells treated with Cp(2)MoCl(2) (300microM) showed distinct morphological alterations of the nuclei, condensation of chromatin, and a high incidence of polynucleated cells. Implications for the mechanism of antitumor action of molybdocene dichloride are discussed.