The effect of 3-aminobenzamide (3AB), an inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, on ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-or bleomycin (BLM)-induced DNA repair synthesis and chromosome aberrations was examined during the cell cycle of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K$_1$ cells. The synchronized cells were obtained by using thymidine double block method and mitotic selection method. Three assays were employed in this study: unscheduled DNA synthesis, alkaline elution and chromosome aberrations. 3AB alone did not induce DNA repair and chromosome aberrations in all phases. The post-treatment with 3AB inhibited DNA repair synthesis induced by EMS or BLM in G$_2$ phase, whereas 3AB did not affect chromosome aberrations induced by EMS or BLM in all phases. These results suggest that 3AB aggravates the cell cycle disturbance which occur after DNA damage, and leads to an accumulation of cells at G$_2$ phase, and inhibits DNA repair synthesis, while the effect 3AB on chromosome aberrations may need reevaluated.