Induction of sister-chromatid exchange by ethylene glycol monomethylether and its metabolite

The frequency of sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) induced by ethylene glycol monomethylether (EGME) and methoxyacetic acid (MAA), a major metabolite of EGME, was determined in human peripheral blood, and for EGME in mouse bone marrow cells. In the experiment on the human peripheral blood, the induction of SCE was observed after the addition of MAA to the culture medium, but not after the addition of EGME, However, EGME induced SCE in the mouse bone marrow cells, when administered by intraperitoneal injection, These results suggested that EGME did not induce SCE itself, but that MAA, one of the major metabolites of EGME induces SCE.