Evaluation of the genotoxic effect of rutin and quercetin by comet assay and micronucleus test.

Flavonoids are phenolic compounds, naturally found in vegetables, tea and red wines. A recent study has demonstrated that the flavonoids rutin and quercetin show a protective role against the deleterious effects of free radicals in cirrhotic rats. Considering this finding and the controversial results concerning the mutagenicity of rutin and quercetin recorded in the literature, the capacity of these flavonoids to cause damage to the DNA was evaluated using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCG) and micronucleus test in the bone marrow of mice. The doses for both compounds were 2 x 2500, 2 x 1250 and 2 x 625 mg/kg. Micronucleus test showed that rutin caused no damage to the DNA of the mice bone marrow cells, and the SCG assay demonstrated an increase of damage only at the dose of 2 x 1250 mg/kg. But when the mice cells of the three quercetin doses were compared with the negative control, significantly higher damage was observed by SCG assay, although not proportional to the dose. The micronucleus test also demonstrated a significant increase of damage, but only at the 2 x 1250 mg/kg dose. Considering the results obtained in this study with very high doses, it is unlikely that the consumption of rutin and quercetin produces any clastogenic effects. Our results also indicated that SCG could profitably be used in drug genotoxicity evaluation protocols.     

微核试验和彗星试验检测雄黄的遗传毒性

目的用短期给药(小鼠骨髓细胞微核试验和彗星试验)和长期给药(利用生殖毒性Ⅰ段试验的大鼠做微核试验和彗星试验)检测雄黄的遗传毒性,探讨利用长期毒性试验或生殖毒性Ⅰ段试验用动物进行遗传毒性检测的可行性。方法小鼠ig给予雄黄0.25,0.5和1.0 g·kg-1,每天1次,2 d后,取骨髓细胞做微核试验和彗星试验;利用生殖毒性Ⅰ段大鼠ig给予0.125,0.25和0.55 g·kg-1,雄性连续给药42 d以上,交配成功后处死;雌性连续ig给药19 d以上,妊娠第15天,取骨髓细胞做微核试验和彗星试验,取血做外周血淋巴细胞微核试验。结果与阴性对照组比较,小鼠雄黄0.25,0.5和1.0 g·kg-1组微核试验微核率分别为3.0‰,4.40‰,7.01‰(P<0.05,P<0.01)和彗星试验拖尾率分别为6.3%,9.7%和11.3%(P<0.05,P<0.01)。与阴性对照组比较,生殖毒性Ⅰ段试验大鼠ig给予雄黄,雄黄0.55 g·kg-1组雄性大鼠的骨髓微核和外周血淋巴细胞微核率分别为2.83‰和6.67‰(P<0.05),雌性大鼠0.25和0.55 g·kg-1的骨髓微核和外周血淋巴细胞微核率分别为1.5‰,2.25‰以及2.58‰和4.40‰(P<0.05,P<0.01);雄黄使雄性和雌性大鼠彗星拖尾率明显升高(P<0.05)。结论利用生殖毒性Ⅰ段试验多次给药后取材做微核试验和彗星试验方法可行;外周血微核试验简便易行;在所观察的剂量下雄黄具有遗传毒性。     

Occupational exposure to formaldehyde: genotoxic risk evaluation by comet assay and micronucleus test using human peripheral lymphocytes

Formaldehyde (FA) is a world high-production compound with numerous applications ranging from production of resins to medicines. Due to its sensitizing properties, irritating effects and potential cancer hazard FA is of great environmental health concern. Numerous studies in humans and experimental animals demonstrated that inhaled FA produced toxicity, genotoxicity, and cancer at distal sites. IARC, based on sufficient data, reclassified FA as a human carcinogen. The highest level of human exposure to this aldehyde occurs in occupational settings, namely, in pathology and anatomy laboratories, where FA is commonly used as a fixative and tissue preservative. Several studies consistently showed that the levels of airborne FA in anatomy laboratories exceeded recommended exposure criteria. In order to assess the genotoxic effects of chronic occupational exposure to FA, a group of pathology/anatomy workers was assessed using a micronucleus (MN) test and comet assay. The level of exposure to FA was also determined and the time-weighted average (TWA) of exposure was calculated for each subject. The TWA mean value for FA exposed workers was 0.43 ± 0.06 ppm, exceeding national and international recommended limit levels of 0.3 ppm. Both MN frequency and comet assay parameters were significantly higher in exposed subjects. Data obtained confirm a correlation between genetic damage and occupational exposure to FA. These data, along with recent implications of human carcinogenicity, point out the need for close monitoring of occupational exposure to FA. Implementation of security and hygiene measures as well as good practices campaigns may be crucial to decrease risk.     

The in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity of isotretinoin assessed by cytokinesis blocked micronucleus assay and comet assay

Isotretinoin is a retinoic acid frequently used in monotherapy or combined with narrow-band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) irradiation to treat patients with acne and psoriasis vulgaris. As both diseases need frequent and/or prolonged therapeutic interventions, the study of the genotoxicity of retinoids becomes important.Our aim was to study the genotoxic effects of isotretinoin alone or combined with NBUVB. In vitro studies were performed in the absence of S9 metabolic activation using blood from five healthy volunteers, incubated 72 h with isotretinoin (1.2–20 μM) (i.e., at concentrations usually achieved in blood with therapeutic doses as well as at higher concentrations). In vivo studies were also performed using blood from two patients with acne and three patients with psoriasis vulgaris treated with isotretinoin in monotherapy (8 or 20 mg/day) or combined with NBUVB (20 mg isotretinoin/day + NBUVB). The genotoxic effect was evaluated by the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus and the comet assays.Our studies showed that isotretinoin alone was not genotoxic when tested in human lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo. There was no clear genotoxic effect in psoriatic patients treated with isotretinoin and NBUVB. The in vitro studies showed that isotretinoin induced apoptosis and necrosis in human lymphocytes at higher doses.     

Genotoxicity of waterpipe smoke in buccal cells and peripheral blood leukocytes as determined by comet assay

Abstract

Context: Waterpipe smoke causes DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes and in buccal cells of smokers.

Objective: To determine the exposure effect of waterpipe smoke on buccal cells and peripheral blood leukocytes in regard to DNA damage using comet assay.

Materials and methods: The waterpipe smoke condensates were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The study was performed on 20 waterpipe smokers. To perform comet assay on bucaal cells of smokers, 10?µl of cell suspension was mixed with 85?µl of pre-warmed 1% low melting agarose, applied to comet slide and electrophoresed. To analyze the effect of smoke condensate in vitro, 1?ml of peripheral blood was mixed with 10?µl of smoke condensate and subjected for comet assay.

Results: The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4on, nicotine, hydroxymethyl furancarboxaldehyde and 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde in the smoke condensates. Waterpipe smoking caused DNA damage in vivo in buccal cells of smokers. The tail moment and tail length in buccal cells of smokers were 186?±?26 and 456?±?71, respectively, which are higher than control. The jurak and moassel smoke condensates were found to cause DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes. The moassel smoke condensate was more damaging.

Discussion: There is wide misconception that waterpipe smoking is not as harmful as cigarette smoking. This study demonstrated that waterpipe smoke induced DNA damage in exposed cells.

Conclusion: Waterpipe smokes cause DNA damage in buccal cells. The smoke condensate of both jurak and moassel caused comet formation suggesting DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes.     

Pre-bled-young-rats in genotoxicity testing: a model for peripheral blood micronucleus assay

Previously we have reported that prior bleeding increases the sensitivity of micronucleus (MN) assay in rats (Vikram et al., 2007 a). Rat peripheral blood micronucleus (PBMN) assay is generally not considered as reliable method for the assessment of clastogenic potential of test chemicals due to selective elimination of micronucleated cells from the circulation. The present study is aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of pre-bled-young-rat model in detecting genotoxins having different mechanism of action. In the present study, young male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (21-24 days old, weighing 60+/-5 g) and swiss mice (24-28 days old, weighing 15+/-2g) were used. Streptozotocin (STZ, 50mg/kg), Methotrexate (MTX, 10mg/kg), N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN, 200mg/kg), Quercetin (QC, 50mg/kg) and Zidovudine (AZT, 400mg/kg) were used in the present experiment. Effect of prior bleeding time (0, 2, 6, 12 and 24h) on the kinetics of MN formation with STZ and AZT was studied and 36 h post chemical exposure was found to be the most suitable time point for sample collection if prior bleeding time was 0, 2 and 6h. Further, the impact of prior bleeding (2h) on the kinetics of MN formation in the bone marrow was evaluated with STZ and maximum MN frequency was observed after 24h. The area under curve (AUC) analysis proves that prior bleeding leads to significant increase in the incidence of micronucleated reticulocytes (RETs) in the peripheral blood as compared to respective non-bled controls. Out of five tested chemicals AZT and STZ induced significant increase in the MN frequency in non-bled animals while at the same dose MTX, AZT, QC and STZ induced significant increase in MN frequency in the pre-bled-young-rats employing PBMN assay as the end point. Positive results with MTX, AZT, QC, STZ and negative results with DEN demonstrate both the sensitivity and specificity of pre-bled-young-rat model in the screening of chemicals for genotoxicity using PBMN assay as the end point.     

Detection of DNA damage in mouse peripheral blood leukocytes by the comet assay after oral administration of monocrotophos

The objective of this study was to determine if single/double strand DNA breaks could be induced by monocrotophos (organophosphorus pesticide) in mice in vivo using the comet assay. Mice were dosed orally with 0.046, 0.093, 0.186, 0.373 and 0.746 mg/kg body weight of monocrotophos, and the assay was performed on whole blood after 24, 48 and 72 h. A significant increase in mean comet tail length indicating DNA damage was observed at 24 and 48 h post-treatment with monocrotophos when compared to controls. A decrease in the mean tail length was observed at 72 h post-treatment indicating repair of the damaged DNA. The mean tail length showed a dose-related increase and time dependent decrease. The study reveals that comet assay is a sensitive and rapid method to detect genotoxicity of monocrotophos.     

Evaluation of environmental genotoxicity by comet assay in Columba livia

The concentrations of recognized or suspected genotoxic and carcinogenic agents found in the air of large cities and, in particular, developing countries, have raised concerns about the potential for chronic health effects in the populations exposed to them. The biomonitoring of environmental genotoxicity requires the selection of representative organisms as “sentinels,” as well as the development of suitable and sensitive assays, such as those aimed at assessing DNA damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate DNA damage levels in erythrocytes from Columba livia living in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico, compared with control animals via comet assay, and to confirm the results via Micronuclei test (MN) and DNA breakage detection–fluorescence in situ hybridization (DBD–FISH). Our results showed a significant increase in DNA migration in animals from the area assayed compared with that observed in control animals sampled in non-contaminated areas. These results were confirmed by MN test and DBD–FISH. In conclusion, these observations confirm that the examination of erythrocytes from Columba livia via alkaline comet assay provides a sensitive and reliable end point for the detection of environmental genotoxicants.     

Antigenotoxicity and antimutagenicity of lycopene in HepG2 cell line evaluated by the comet assay and micronucleus test.

Epidemiological studies have provided evidence that high consumption of tomatoes effectively reduces the risk of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated diseases such as cancer. Tomatoes are rich sources of lycopene, a potent singlet oxygen-quenching carotenoid. In addition to its antioxidant properties, lycopene shows an array of biological effects including antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities. In the present study, the chemopreventive action of lycopene was examined on DNA damage and clastogenic or aneugenic effects of H2O2 and n-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) in the metabolically competent human hepatoma cell line (HepG2 cells). Lycopene at concentrations of 10, 25, and 50 microM, was tested under three protocols: before, simultaneously, and after treatment with the mutagen, using the comet and micronucleus assays. Lycopene significantly reduced the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of H2O2 in all of the conditions tested. For DEN, significant reductions of primary DNA damage (comet assay) were detected when the carotenoid (all of the doses) was added in the cell culture medium before or simultaneously with the mutagen. In the micronucleus test, the protective effect of lycopene was observed only when added prior to DEN treatment. In conclusion, our results suggest that lycopene is a suitable agent for preventing chemically-induced DNA and chromosome damage.     

Cytogenetic status and oxidative DNA-damage induced by atorvastatin in human peripheral blood lymphocytes: standard and Fpg-modified comet assay

To investigate the genotoxic potential of atorvastatin on human lymphocytes in vitro standard comet assay was used in the evaluation of basal DNA damage and to investigate possible oxidative DNA damage produced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) Fpg-modified version of comet assay was also conducted. In addition to these techniques the new criteria for scoring micronucleus test were applied for more complete detection of baseline damage in binuclear lymphocytes exposed to atorvastatin 80 mg/day in different time periods by virtue of measuring the frequency of micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds. All parameters obtained with the standard comet assay and Fpg-modified comet assay were significantly higher in the treated than in control lymphocytes. The Fpg-modified comet assay showed a significantly greater tail length, tail intensity, and tail moment in all treated lymphocytes than did the standard comet assay, which suggests that oxidative stress is likely to be responsible for DNA damage. DNA damage detected by the standard comet assay indicates that some other mechanism is also involved. In addition to the comet assay, a total number of micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds were significantly higher in the exposed than in controlled lymphocytes. Regression analyses showed a positive correlation between the results obtained by the comet (Fpg-modified and standard) and micronucleus assay. Overall, the study demonstrated that atorvastatin in its highest dose is capable of producing damage on the level of DNA molecule and cell.     

In vivo genotoxic effects of mercuric chloride in rat peripheral blood leucocytes using comet assay

DNA damage induced by Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) in leucocytes of Wistar albino male rats has been studied in vivo. The comet assay or the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay was used to measure the DNA damage. The rats were administered orally with doses ranging from 0.0054, 0.0108, 0.0216, 0.0432 to 0.0864 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.) of HgCl2. The assay was performed on whole blood at 24, 48, 72 h, 1st and 2nd week. The reason leucocytes were used was to reflect biomarker studies in humans. A significant increase in mean comet tail length indicating DNA damage was observed at all time intervals with HgCl2 except in 2nd week post treatment when compared to controls. The mean comet tail length revealed a clear dose dependent increase from 0.0054 to 0.0432 mg/kg b.wt. A maximum increase in mean comet tail length was observed at 0.0432 mg/kg b.wt. 24 h after treatment. From 48 h post treatment, the mean comet tail lengths of all the doses gradually decreased and by week 2 of post treatment, they had approached control levels, pointing to repair of the damaged DNA. These findings suggest that the comet assay is a highly sensitive technique to study DNA damage caused by metals.     

Genotoxicity evaluation of dimethoate to experimental mice by micronucleus, chromosome aberration tests, and comet assay

Dimethoate (DM) is an organophosphate insecticide with numerous uses on field and agricultural crops and ornamentals. Data concerning DM-acute genotoxicity are controversial and knowledge on its delayed effect is limited. For this reason, we aimed to further explore DM genotoxicity resulting from subchronic intoxication of experimental mice. Thus, DM was administered to mice at doses ranging from 1 to 30 mg/kg body weight for a period of 30 consecutive days. There was a significant increase (P < .05) in the frequency of micronucleated bone marrow cells following DM administration. Furthermore, the chromosome aberration assay revealed a significant increase in the percentage of chromosome abnormalities in a dose-dependent manner. Dimethoate was also found to induce significant DNA damage in mouse bone marrow cells as assessed by the comet assay. Altogether, our results showed that, after a subchronic exposure, DM was a genotoxic compound in experimental mice.     

Detection of DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes by 7 compounds using comet assay

目的：检测过氧化氢（Ｈ２Ｏ２）、甲磺酸乙酯（ＥＭＳ）、丝裂霉素Ｃ（ＭＭＣ）、二甲基亚硝胺（ＤＭＮＡ）、苯并（ａ）芘（ＢａＰ）、２氨基芴（２ＡＦ）和环磷酰胺（ＣＰ）诱发小鼠、大鼠及人外周血淋巴细胞ＤＮＡ单链断裂．方法：体外单细胞微量凝胶碱性电泳试验（慧星试验）．结果：除ＥＭＳ０９７ｍｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１在小鼠淋巴细胞，ＭＭＣ３０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１在小鼠、人淋巴细胞中呈阴性外，其余均为阳性．最低可检测浓度分别为Ｈ２Ｏ２１μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１，ＥＭＳ０４８ｍｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１，ＢａＰ５０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１，ＣＰ２０ｍｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１，ＭＭＣ１０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１，ＤＭＮＡ２７３ｍｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１，２ＡＦ６２５μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１．ＣＰ、ＢａＰ、２ＡＦ需经Ｓ９Ｍｉｘ代谢活化才显示毒性．结论：彗星试验检测出ＭＭＣ诱导大鼠，ＥＭＳ诱导大鼠和人，以及Ｈ２Ｏ２、ＤＭＮＡ、ＢａＰ、ＣＰ和２ＡＦ诱导小鼠、大鼠和人外周血淋巴细胞ＤＮＡ单链断裂损伤．     

Genotoxic effects of the fungicide thiophanate-methyl on Podarcis sicula assessed by micronucleus test, comet assay and chromosome analysis

The increasing use of pesticides in modern agriculture has raised the need to evaluate their potential threat to animal and human health. In the present study, the genotoxic effects of environmentally relevant exposure to the fungicide thiophanate-methyl (TM) were assessed in the lizard Podarcis sicula (Reptilia, Lacertidae) using micronucleus test, chromosome aberration analysis and single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. The number of micronuclei increased significantly with exposure time in lizard specimens exposed to 1.5% TM for 30–40 days. In situ hybridization with the specific HindIII centromeric satellite was positive in 18.7% of the micronuclei observed, suggesting an aneugenic effect of TM during mitosis. DNA damage, evaluated by the comet assay, documented a significant gain in comet length in relation to exposure time that was paralleled by a reduction in head size. Finally, cytogenetic analysis showed a significant increase in chromosome aberrations in exposed animals compared with controls. Our data suggest that long-term TM exposure induces a genomic damage that is positively correlated to exposure time. If such genotoxic effects arise so clearly in an ectothermal vertebrate, such as P. sicula, prolonged exposure TM must be considered as a cytogenetic hazard.     

Studying the genotoxicity of vincristine on human lymphocytes using comet assay, micronucleus assay and TCR gene mutation test in vitro

The results of our previous investigation for workers occupationally exposed to vincristine (VCR) indicated that the genetic damage was detectable with comet assay, cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay and housekeeping gene mutation tests. In order to determine the results of above investigation and to inquire further the characteristics of genotoxicity of VCR, the cytogenetic effects of VCR on human lymphocytes were assessed with comet assay, CBMN assay and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene mutation test in vitro. The lymphocytes from two healthy donors were incubated for 24h at doses of 0.00, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.08microgml(-1) VCR. The results of the present experiment showed that VCR not only could induce DNA damage, increase significantly micronucleus frequencies and the apoptotic cell ratios and decrease the nuclear division index (NDI) with dose-response relationship, but also could produce nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs), a biomarker of DNA misrepair and/or telomere end-fusions and nuclear buds (NBUDs), a biomarker of elimination of amplified DNA and/or DNA repair complexes. Moreover, VCR could enhance TCR gene mutation frequency (Mf-TCR) of human lymphocytes. There was good correlation between the parameters (mean tail length, mean tail moment, micronucleus frequency, micronucleated frequency and Mf-TCR). The results of present study supported the results of our previous investigation for workers occupationally exposed to VCR, and the genotoxicity of VCR was determined at the different genetic end-points in vitro.     

Antigenotoxicity of artepillin C in vivo evaluated by the micronucleus and comet assays

Artepillin C (3,5‐diprenyl‐p‐coumaric acid), a major compound found in Brazilian green propolis and Baccharis dracunculifolia, shows anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant and antitumoral activities, among others. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of artepillin C and its ability to prevent the chemically induced chromosome breakage or loss and the primary DNA damage using the micronucleus and comet assays in male Swiss mice, respectively. The animals were treated by gavage with different doses of artepillin C (0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg kg^?1 b.w.). For the antigenotoxicity assays, the different doses of artepillin C were administered simultaneously to doxorubicin (DXR; micronucleus test; 15 mg kg^?1 b.w.) and to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS; comet assay; 40 mg kg^?1 b.w.). The results showed that artepillin C itself was not genotoxic in the mouse micronucleus and comet assays. In the animals treated with artepillin C and DXR, the number of micronucleated reticulocytes was significantly lower in comparison with the animals treated only with DXR. Regarding antigenotoxicity, artepillin C at the tested doses significantly reduced the extent of DNA damage in liver cells induced by MMS. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

大鼠肝彗星试验与骨髓微核试验评价结果比较研究

目的 梳理国家药物安全评价监测中心联合开展的大鼠多终点体内遗传毒性试验数据,比较大鼠肝彗星试验与骨髓微核试验结果的一致性和灵敏性。方法 试验分设阴性物质组、作用机制明确的遗传毒性阳性物质组、受试物组,阴性物质包括超纯水、0.9%氯化钠注射液、玉米油、0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠（CMC-Na）、5%蔗糖和聚山梨酯80,给药体积为10 mL·kg^-1;遗传毒性阳性物质包括200 mg·kg^-1甲磺酸乙酯（EMS）、40 mg·kg^-1N-乙基-N-亚硝基脲（ENU）、40 mg·kg^-1环磷酰胺、75 mg·kg^-1甲基苄肼、800 mg·kg^-1尿烷、75 mg·kg^-1对氯苯胺、40 mg·kg^-1 1,2-二溴-3-氯丙烷和10 mg·kg^-1秋水仙素;受试物包括100、300、1000 mg·kg^-1大黄素-8-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷,6.5、65.0、650.0 mg·kg^-1单蒽酮和6.5、65.0、650.0 mg·kg^-1大黄素甲醚。分别在实验0、24、45 hig给药1次,给药体积为10 mL·kg^-1。开展大鼠肝彗星试验和骨髓微核试验,计算每只动物的肝细胞刺猬细胞率和尾DNA百分含量（Tail% DNA）,以及每只动物的嗜多染红细胞（PCE）/总红细胞（ERY）比例和嗜多染红细胞微核（MNPCE）率。结果 大鼠肝彗星试验可有效检出DNA断裂剂,对多种烷化剂（甲磺酸乙酯、甲基苄肼和尿烷等）有较好的预测性,但对环磷酰胺和多倍体诱导剂不灵敏。大黄素-8-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷、单蒽酮和大黄素甲醚骨髓微核试验结果均为阴性。大黄素-8-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷在1 000 mg·kg^-1剂量下导致的肝Tail% DNA与0.5% CMC-Na组比较显著升高（P<0.05）;单蒽酮的肝彗星试验结果为明确阳性,剂量为650 mg·kg^-1时,单蒽酮可导致大鼠肝Tail% DNA显著升高（P<0.05）,且作用存在剂量相关性;大黄素甲醚的肝彗星试验结果为阴性。结论 大鼠肝彗星试验可与骨髓微核试验互补,有效检出主要作用于肝脏且亲电子性较强的遗传毒性化合物。     

Evaluating the genotoxic effects of workers exposed to lead using micronucleus assay, comet assay and TCR gene mutation test

To evaluate the genotoxic effects of lead (Pb) exposure, 25 workers in a workplace producing storage battery were monitored for three genetic end-points using micronucleus (MN) assay, comet assay and TCR gene mutation test. Twenty-five controls were matched with workers according to age, gender and smoking. The air Pb concentration in the workplace was 1.26 mg/m(3). All subjects were measured for Pb concentration of blood by atom absorption spectrophotometry. The mean Pb concentration of blood in workers (0.32 mg/l) was significantly higher than that in controls (0.02 mg/l). The results of MN test showed that the mean micronuclei rate (MNR) and mean micronucleated cells rate (MCR) in workers were 9.04+/-1.51 per thousand and 7.76+/-1.23 per thousand, respectively, which were significantly higher than those (2.36+/-0.42 per thousand and 1.92+/-0.31 per thousand) in controls (P<0.01). It was found in the comet assay that the mean tail length (MTL) of 25 workers and 25 controls were 2.42+/-0.09 and 1.02+/-0.08 microm, respectively, there was significant difference between workers and controls for MTL (P<0.01), also the difference of the mean tail moment (MTM) between workers (0.85+/-0.05) and controls (0.30+/-0.09) was very significant (P<0.01). However, in TCR gene mutation assay Mfs-TCR of workers and controls were 1.69+/-0.15 x 10(-4) and 1.74+/-0.17 x 10(-4), respectively, there was no significant difference between workers and controls (P>0.05). The results of our study indicated that the genetic damage was detectable in 25 workers occupationally exposed to lead.     

First in vivo evaluation of the mutagenic effect of Brazilian green propolis by comet assay and micronucleus test

Propolis is a hive product containing chiefly beeswax and plant-derived substances such as resin and volatile compounds. Propolis has been used in various parts of the world as an antiseptic and wound healer since ancient times, and interest in the product has recently increased. Considering the lack of data concerning the in vivo mutagenicity of green propolis, the capacity of this natural product to cause damage to the DNA was evaluated, using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and micronucleus test, in the peripheral blood cells of mice. The doses tested by gavage were 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg. Micronucleus and SCGE assays showed that green propolis caused an increase in the damage to DNA in the peripheral blood cells of mice. The polychromatic:normochromatic erythrocytes ratio was not statistically different from the negative control. Considering the doses and the results obtained in this study, the acute consumption of green propolis produced some mutagenic effects on the blood cells of mice.     

Enhancement of genotoxic effects in the comet assay with human blood samples by aphidicolin

The comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis) has become increasingly used in human biomonitoring. In its standard version at pH > 13, DNA lesions such as DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), DNA single strand breaks (SSB) and alkali-labile sites (ALS) lead to increased DNA migration. Besides DNA damage, strand break formation during excision repair can also increase DNA migration. Inhibitors of DNA repair have been shown to enhance the DNA effects of mutagens and the use of repair inhibitors has been proposed for human biomonitoring studies to increase the sensitivity of the comet assay. To further evaluate the usefulness of such an approach we performed an experimental study with human blood and tested the enhancing effect of aphidicolin (APC) on DNA effects induced by different mutagens. Our results clearly show that APC enhances the genotoxic effects of benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide (BPDE), bischloroethylnitrosurea (BCNU) and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), but has no significant effect on gamma radiation-induced DNA effects. The enhancing effect is seen in unstimulated and PHA-stimulated blood, indicating repair activity under both conditions but the effect is stronger in stimulated blood. Our results indicate that APC can be used to increase the sensitivity of the comet assay towards a broad spectrum of induced primary DNA lesions and support the usefulness of this approach. However, for human biomonitoring, a sensitive protocol still has to be established.