The effect of 1,2-benzanthracene and 3, 4-benzpyrene on the ultrastructure of maize cells

The action of different concentrations of 1,2-benzanthracene and 3,4-benzpyrene on maize root cell ultrastructural organization was studied. It has been shown that low concentrations of xenobiotics (1,2-benzanthracene 20–100 μg/ml; 3,4-benzpyrene 2.6 × 10−9–2.6 × 10−8 μg/ml) do not cause noticeable changes on ultrastructural level due to the cellʹs ability to assimilate and metabolize them. At the same time, these low concentrations of 3,4-benzpyrene inhibit DNA synthesis in nuclei. Higher concentrations of 1,2-benzanthracene (200 μg/ml) and 3,4-benzpyrene (2.6 × 10−7–2.6 × 10−5 μg/ml) lead to significant ultrastructural changes up to the complete destruction of the cell.