Increased DNA-protein crosslinks in lymphocytes of residents living in chromium-contaminated areas

It has been known for a number of years that chromium-containing mine slags were used as landfill in residential areas of Hudson County, New Jersey. Since one of the major lesions induced in intact cells by chromate is the DNA-Protein crosslink, we have used this lesion as a biomarker of biological effect of chromium (Cr) exposure. We have previously developed a sensitive and easy-to-perform assay to detect DNA-Protein crosslinks, based on the selective K SDS precipitation of DNA associated with protein. We examined the levels of DNA-Protein crosslinks in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 33 individuals determined to be at risk for chromium exposure by virtue of their residence in Hudson County and their urinary Cr levels. These data were compared to the levels of DNA-Protein crosslinks among 49 controls who resided in noncontaminated areas. A complete clinical examination and urine analysis did not show any Cr-related abnormalities among the exposed population. The mean DNA-Protein crosslink level in the lymphocytes of the exposed group was 1.3±0.5% (SD), whereas the unexposed group had 0.8±0.4% (p<0.001), after adjustment for age, gender, race, smoking, and weight. Further studies in this population are needed to confirm the possible association between the high levels of DNA-Protein crosslink and Cr exposure.     

Cytogenetic analyses in peripheral lymphocytes of persons living in houses with increased levels of indoor radon concentrations

Published data concerning the effects of indoor radon exposure on the frequency of chromosome aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes of residents are contradictory. Possible reasons for this may be the low radon concentration in dwellings and/or the limited number of investigated persons. We therefore studied the relationship of domestic radon exposure and the occurrence of chromosome aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes in 61 persons living in houses with radon concentrations from 80 up to 13,000 Bq/m3. We analyzed 60,000 cells from fluorescence plus Giemsa (FPG)-stained slides. It could be clearly demonstrated that in groups of persons living in dwellings with indoor radon concentrations >200 Bq/m3 the number of cells containing dicentrics and/or centric rings (C(dic + cr)) (2.45 +/- 0.50 x 10(-3)) was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in comparison to the control level (1.03 +/- 0.15 x 10(-3)). However, there was no difference in the mean frequency of C(dic + cr) between the groups living in dwellings with higher radon concentrations. Using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique for the detection of translocations, we analyzed 23,315 cells in 16 persons of the highest exposed group (>5,000 Bq/m3). The observed frequency of translocations was 3.9 +/- 0.64 x 10(-3). In comparison to the control group (2.02 +/- 0.18 x 10(-3)), there was a slight but not statistically significant increase in the exposed group (P = 0.055). If, however, the age of the examined persons is taken into account, the values are significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the exposed persons older than 40 years in comparison to the age-matched controls. Since most of the translocations were found in stable cells, it is concluded that translocations are also induced in blood-forming tissue and are transmitted to peripheral blood.     

镉污染地区番茄品种的筛选及其抗氧化能力

为了筛选可供利用的番茄污染安全品种(Pollution-safe cultivar,PSC),减少镉(Cd)污染地区食品安全隐患,通过土培及水培试验研究了南方地区常见不同番茄(Solanumlycopersicum)品种对Cd的积累差异.首先利用土培试验在2.94 mg/kg Cd胁迫下从25个番茄品种中筛选出高低积累...     

Cytogenetic investigation of spontaneous abortions

Summary 88 spontaneous abortions were investigated cytogenetically, 18 of them proved to have anomalies of chromosomes. Cells with aberrations were exposed to continuous cultivation. Successful prolonged cultures were grown from embryos with the following karyotypes: trisomy D, trisomy C and mosaicism (46,XX/47,XX,C+/48,XX,C+E+). It was shown that nonmosaic abnormal karyotypes were stable in the process of prolonged cultivation.

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Zusammenfassung 88 spontane Aborte wurden cytogenetisch untersucht. Bei 18 von ihnen fanden sich Chromosomenanomalien. Bei Zellen und Aberrationen wurden Langzeit-Kulturen durchgeführt. Diese Langzeit-Kulturen waren erfolgreich bei Embryonen und den folgenden Karyotypen: Trisomie D, Trisomie C und einem Mosaik (46,XX/47,XX,C+/48,XX,C+E+). Abnorme Karyotypen ohne Mosaik verhielten sich bei der Langzeit-Kultivierung stabil.

     

Cytogenetic changes in peripheral blood lymphocytes of oncology patients

Analysis of home and foreign literature underlies the discussion of the significance of cytogenetic variations (frequency of aberrant cells and SCE-heteromorphism of C-chromatin and brittleness of chromosomes as indices of chromosome instability in oncological patients.     

Chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of individuals living in high background radiation areas of Ramsar,Iran

In order to investigate the biological effects of exposure to low-dose radiation and to assess the dose–effect relationship in residents of high background radiation areas (HBRAs) of Ramsar, cytogenetic investigation of unstable-type aberrations was performed in 15 healthy elderly women in a HBRA of Ramsar, Talesh mahalle, and in 10 elderly women living in a nearby control area with normal background radiation. In total, 77,714 cells were analyzed; 48,819 cells in HBRA residents and 28,895 cells in controls. On average, 3,108 cells per subject were analyzed (range 1,475–5,007 cells). Significant differences were found in the frequency of dicentric plus centric rings in 100 cells (0.207 ± 0.103 vs. 0.047 ± 0.027, p < 0.0005), total chromosome-type aberrations per 100 cells (0.86 ± 0.44 vs. 0.23 ± 0.17, p < 0.0005), and chromatid-type aberrations per 100 cells (3.31 ± 2.01 vs. 1.66 ± 0.63, p = 0.01) by the Mann–Whitney U test between HBRA and the control, respectively. Using chromosomal aberrations as the main endpoint to assess the dose–effect relationship in residents of HBRAs in Ramsar, no positive correlation was found between the frequency of dicentric plus centric ring aberrations and the cumulative dose of the inhabitants estimated by direct individual dosimetry; however, obvious trends of increase with age appeared in the control group. Based on these results, individuals residing in HBRAs of Ramsar have an increased frequency of detectable abnormalities in unstable aberrations.     

Cytogenetic investigation of chemically-induced aneuploidy in mouse spermatocytes

This paper discusses a test system in which mouse spermatocytes are analyzed for aneuploidy induction after mice are treated with various agents. Included in this report are methods and procedures of the assay, criteria for determination of aneuploidy induction, considerations for dose-response and stage-specific actions of agents that cause aneuploidy, and finally, advantages and disadvantages of this test system.     

Cytogenetic investigation of geranium plants in tissue culture

Cytogenetic study of six cultivars and six selection lines of geranium (Pelargonium spp.), as well as of 100 plants regenerated from callus cultures has been performed. The majority of cultivars and lines had somatic chromosome numbers 2n = 7x = 56. Among regenerated plants of different cultivars (Rozovaja, Dushistaja, Krunk, Aist, Regar) obtained in vitro from various types of explants (internode, petiole) 61% of diploids and 39% aneuploids were revealed. Chromosome numbers in aneuploids varied from 46 to 82, among them 25.6% regenerated plants had 2n = 72; 10.2% -2n = 68; 5.1% -2n = = 64 and 12.8% -2n = 62. Addition of colhicine to nutrient medium increased the number of aneuploid plants.     

Spectroscopic properties of fluorescein in living lymphocytes

Detailed studies have been performed on various spectroscopic properties such as time dependence and excitation wavelength dependence of the fluorescence anisotropy for fluorescein molecules introduced into rat thymus lymphocytes. Experimental results have been found to be well interpreted in terms of the coexistence of two types of dye molecules, i.e., free and bound molecules. The fluorescence spectrum of only the bound molecules has been obtained from the difference in the time-resolved spectra of fluorescence with two polarization directions. The time gate has been set at a sufficiently late time after the excitation, so that the polarization memories of the free molecules are lost. The spectrum thus determined agrees very well with that calculated from the spectral data in the stationary condition. From the above results, we come to the conclusion that the main factors which determine the fluorescence anisotropy inside the cell are the fraction and the anisotropy of the bound dye molecules. Finally, we discuss how these factors are related to biological quantities.     

Cytogenetic investigation of patients with primary amenorrhea

Primary amenorrhea refers to absence of spontaneous menarche even after the age of 16. Cytogenetic analysis in two cases with primary amenorrhea, short stature, poorly developed secondary sexual characteristics, and growth retardation were studied. Routine GTG-band analysis of metaphases from peripheral blood leucocytes revealed female karyotype with a 15(ps+) and an isochromosome of X, i(Xq), in one patient and 46,X, i(Xq), in another patient. Ascertainment of the karyotype aided in confirmation of the provisional diagnosis, a better phenotype-genotype correlation to understand clinical heterogeneity in genetic counseling.     

Cytogenetic investigation of occupational exposure to epichlorohydrin

Cytogenetic evaluation of peripheral lymphocytes from 93 workers currently exposed to epichlorohydrin has revealed an increase in aberration rates as compared to that of a 75-person group seen for preemployment examination. Statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of individuals with chromatid breaks, chromosome breaks, severely damaged cells, and total abnormal cells. These results confirm the observations of Kucerova et al. in a similar occupational group.     

Cytogenetic effects of airborne particulate matter in human lymphocytes in vitro

City smog was collected in a heavily industrialized area and investigated for its ability to induce cytogenetic effects in human lymphocytes in vitro. Total extract of city smog was found to produce sister-chromatid exchanges and chromosomal aberrations in a dose-dependent manner. In addition cell-cycle delay was observed at higher concentrations of city smog extract. Results of cytogenetic testing are discussed with respect to cell-cycle kinetics.     

Cytogenetic effects of diazepam in peripheral lymphocytes of self-poisoned persons.

The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and of micronuclei were determined in lymphocyte cultures of 25 patients who attempted suicide with diazepam, 6-12 h, 72 h and 30 days after self-poisoning. These data were compared with those of healthy controls. The frequencies of numerical aberrations showed a significant increase immediately after self-poisoning. However, this effect could not be detected on the 3rd and 30th days after self-poisoning.     

Cytogenetic effects of chloroquine in a culture of human lymphocytes]

Chloroquine added to human lymphocyte culture at the G1 stage had no influcence on the chromosome aberration level in the concentration of 15 mug/ml and suppressed the mitotic activity of the cells almost completely in the concentration of 60 and 100 mug/ml. At the G2 stage chloroquine in the concentration of 15 mug/ml had no cytogenetic effect and in the concentration of 100 mug/ml -- it increased the number of chromosome aberrations significantly.     

Cytogenetic damage induced in human lymphocytes by sodium bisulfite.

The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE), and micronuclei (MN) in human blood lymphocytes exposed to sodium bisulfite (sulfur dioxide) at various concentrations ranging from 5 x 10(-5) M to 2 x 10(-3) M in vitro were studied. It was shown that sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3 and Na2SO3, 1:3 M/M) caused an increase in SCE and MN in human blood lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner, and also induced mitotic delays and decreased mitotic index. For CA, our results indicated that sodium bisulfite induced an increase of chromatid-type aberrations in lymphocytes from three of four donors in a dose-dependent manner. The chemical at low concentrations induced chromatid-type aberrations, but not chromosome-type aberrations; high concentrations induced both chromatid- and chromosome-type aberrations. No cytogenetic damage in human lymphocytes was induced by sodium sulfate. The results have confirmed that sulfur dioxide is a clastogenic and genotoxic agent.