Cytopathological effects of aristolochic acid on male houseflies causing sterility

Summary Feeding male houseflies with 0.075% aristolochic acid obtained from the plants of the genusAristolochia induced sterility. High condensation of chromosomes, and breakages, have been shown to be responsible for sterility. When onion roots were exposed to aristolochic acid similar chromosomal aberrations were noticed in cells at the tip.Authors are thankful to Prof. Dr G. Rücker (Universität Bonn) for a generous gift of aristolochic acid.