In the present study, the genotoxic effects of the low-calorie sweetener aspartame (ASP), which is a dipeptide derivative, was investigated using chromosome aberration (CA) test, sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test, micronucleus test in human lymphocytes and also Ames/Salmonella/ microsome test. ASP induced CAs at all concentrations (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/ml) and treatment periods (24 and 48 h) dosedependently, while it did not induce SCEs. On the other hand, ASP decreased the replication index (RI) only at the highest concentration for 48 h treatment period. However, ASP decreased the mitotic index (MI) at all concentrations and treatment periods dose-dependently. In addition, ASP induced micronuclei at the highest * Correspondence: Dr. Eyyüp Rencüzogulları, Biology Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Ç ukurova University, 01330 Adana, Turkey; Fax: +90-3223386070; E-mail: reyyup@mail.cu. edu.tr. www.dekker.com concentrations only. This induction was also dose-dependent for 48 hours treatment period. ASP was not mutagenic for Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains in the absence and presence of S9 mix.

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Cell division is a phenomenon that is encountered in all cells in nature. While normal cell division results in proliferation in single-celled organisms, and development and repair in multicellular organisms, aberrant and untimely cell division results in tumor formation. Therefore, the understanding of the cell division is hidden in identifying the details of the molecular mechanisms that govern cellular division at the exact time and under right conditions. Sometimes these molecular mechanisms are distorted by both intrinsic and extracellular factors, and the division process halts or deviates to an abnormal pathway. At this point, it is essential that the abnormal cells are removed from the tissue by an appropriate mechanism. In this context, in this review, general and specific information about cell division and its molecular control mechanisms were discussed, and different types of cell death mechanisms were mentioned accordingly. In addition, chemical, biological, and physical cytotoxic agents that negatively affect cell division and their mechanisms of action are explained. Finally, a brief review of the principles of different cytotoxicity (cell viability and proliferation) test systems has been performed to provide a source of information for investigators who study cell viability, proliferation, or different types of cellular death pathways.

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