Progestin (norethisterone)-induced genetic damage in mouse bone marrow.

Primolut-N tablets containing norethisterone were assessed for their in vivo genotoxic effect on the bone marrow cells of Swiss albino mice. The chromosomal aberration assay and the micronucleus test were employed for the study. Statistically significant increases in chromosomal aberrations were induced by doses > or = 3.0 mg/kg/day. The maximum frequency of aberrations was induced at 24 h, thereafter decreasing with increasing time. But the drug Primolut-N did not induce a significant increase in the number of micronuclei in bone marrow erythrocytes at any of the doses and time intervals studied.