Detection of Sperm DNA Damage in Workers Exposed to Benzene by Modified Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis

It was well known that the genotoxicity and the carcinogenic effects of benzene weredemonstrated[1,2]. Recently more attention had been paid to the effects of benzene on humanreproduction. These studies focused on the female reproductive system[3] or the semen,such as volume, viscosity and liquefaction[4]. Few articles reported investigating the effectsof benzene on sperm DNA that was crucial for human reproduction[5].The purpose of this study was to assess sperm DNA damage in workers expos…

Detection of Sperm DNA Damage in Workers Exposed to Benzene by Modified Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis

Objective To assess the effect of benzene on sperm DNA damageMethods Twenty-seven benzene-exposed workers were selected as exposed groupand 35 normal sperm donors as control group. Air concentration of benzene series inworkshop was determined by gas chromatography. As an internal exposure dose ofbenzene, the concentration of trans, trans-muconic acid (ttMA) was determined byhigh performance liquid chromatography. DNA was detected by modified single cellgel electrophoresis (SCGE).Results The air concentrations of benzene, toluene and xylene at the workplace were86.49 ± 2.83 mg/m3, 97.20 ±3.52 mg/m3 and 97.45 ±2.10 mg/m3, respectively.Urinary ttMA in exposed group (1.040 ± 0.617 mg/L) was significantly higher thanthat of control group (0.819 ± 0.157 mg/L). The percentage of head DNA, determinedby modified SCGE method, significantly decreased in the exposed group (n=13, 70.18%± 7.36%) compared with the control (n=16, 90.62% ± 2.94%)(P＜0.001).Conclusion The modified SCGE method can be used to investigate the damage ofsperm DNA. As genotoxin and reprotoxins, benzene had direct effect on the germ cellsduring the spermatogenesiss.