The mutagenic activity of aflatoxin B1 in the Cricetulus griseus hamster and Macaca mulatta monkey

Chromosome aberrations were scored in bone marrow cells of Cricetulus griseus hamsters and Macaca mulatta monkeys given a single i.p. injection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The mutagenic activity of AFB1 was assessed by the percentage of cells bearing aberrations and by the total frequency of chromosome and chromatid breaks. Chinese hamsters were treated with five different doses of AFB1 ranging from 1 microgram to 5 mg/kg (LD50/30 = 12.2 mg/kg) and the aberration yields at each AFB1 dose level tested were determined at 24 h intervals for 5 consecutive days. Compared to controls the increase in the two types of chromosome abnormalities was significant in all tests. At 5 mg/kg of AFB1 the tests were carried out over a period of 92 days to assure the analysis of aberration yields with time. All chromosome aberration assays conducted during this period showed significant increases in the frequencies of aberrant cells and chromosome and chromatid breaks in comparison to controls. Macaque monkeys were treated in the same fashion using 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg of AFB1 and the dynamics of chromosome aberration yields was analyzed for a period of 730 days. Similarly as in the case of Chinese hamsters the percentage of cells with aberrations and the frequency of chromosome and chromatid breaks were always higher in this period than the control value. Long-term aberration yield data obtained experimentally were expressed in the form of analytical curves which allowed to establish the time when the yields of aberrant cells reached their maxima and when they returned to the control level. In both animal species tested the courses of analytical curves had a similar dynamics. Factors that might be responsible for a long-term persistence and relatively great fluctuations of the chromosome aberration yields encountered after a single injection of AFB1 are discussed in detail.     

Mechanisms of chromosomal aberration production II. Aberrations induced by 5-bromodeoxyuridine and visible light

We have allowed synchronized V79B Chinese hamster tissue culture cells to incorporate 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) during one DNA synthetic (S) period of the cell cycle and then determined chromosomal aberration yields induced by illumination of the cells with visible light during the succeeding pre- and post-DNA-synthetic (G₁and G₂) phases of the cell cycle. At the level used, BUdR by itself induces no aberrations. Illumination during the G₁ phase following incorporation induces aberrations of the chromatid type, but none of the chromosome type. All types of chromatid aberrations are induced, including isochromatid deletions and exchange types. In contrast, when cells are illuminated during the immediately following G₂ phase, large numbers of achromatic lesions and chromatic deletions are seen at the first post-illumination mitosis, but no isochromatid deletions and few exchange-type aberrations occur. When G₂-illuminated cells are examined in their second mitosis, however, chromatid aberrations of all types are again seen.

These results are interpreted within the “repair” model of chromosomal aberration production by UV light presented earlier³. The model assumes that the vertebrate chromosome is mononeme, consisting of but a single DNA double helix during the prereplication G₁ phase. The initial lesions induced by illumination of BUdR-containing DNA are believed to be single-chain breaks, and the observation that G₁ illumination produces only chromatid-type aberrations is taken as additional evidence for the mononeme chromosome. Conversion of single-chain breaks into double chain breaks through the action of a single-strand nuclease is postulated to account for the production of chromatid deletions at the first mitosis of G₂-illuminated cells. The action of this enzyme, plus a recombinational or post-replication repair mechanism, are postulated to account for the production of isochromatid deletions in G₁-illuminated cells. A rapid decline in achromatic lesion frequency with increasing time between G₂ illumination and fixation of the cells is considered evidence for rapid rejoining of most of the initial chain breaks.     

Chromosome aberrations in workers of nuclear-power plants

The frequencies of chromosome aberrations in 135 workers from nuclear-power plants were compared with those in 135 age-matched controls. A total of 135,000 cells was scored. The frequencies of dicentric chromosome were 1.67 × 10⁻³ in the exposed group and 0.49 × 10⁻³ in the control group and those of chromosome-type deletion were 3.33 × 10⁻³ and 1.10 × 10⁻³, respectively. The frequencies of all types of chromosome aberrations in the exposed subjects were higher than those in the control group, but no significant trend of dose-dependent increase was observed when only the exposed group were considered. Poisson regression analysis, with both exposed and control included, showed that there was a significant association of chromosome aberration with radiation dose and the duration of work, but not with age, smoking habit and alcohol intake. It was also found that recent exposure to radiation, within the last 5 years, had contributed more to the observed chromosome aberration than earlier exposure.     

Genotoxicity testing of fluconazole in vivo and in vitro

The genotoxic effects of the antifungal drug fluconazole (trade name triflucan) were assessed in the chromosome aberration (CA) test in mouse bone-marrow cells in vivo and in the chromosome aberration, sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus (MN) tests in human lymphocytes. Fluconazole was used at concentrations of 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg for the in vivo assay and 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 microg/ml were used for the in vitro assay. In both test systems, a negative and a positive control (MMC) were also included. Six types of structural aberration were observed: chromatid and chromosome breaks, sister chromatid union, chromatid exchange, fragments and dicentric chromosomes. Polyploidy was observed in both the in vivo and in vitro systems. In the in vivo test, fluconazole did not significantly increase the frequency of CA. In the in vitro assays, CA, SCE and MN frequencies were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner compared with the negative control. The mitotic, replication and cytokinesis-block proliferation indices (CBPI) were not affected by treatments with fluconazole. According to these results, fluconazole is clastogenic and aneugenic in human lymphocytes, but these effects could not be observed in mice. Further studies should be conducted in other test systems to evaluate the full genotoxic potential of fluconazole.     

新制癌菌素和平阳霉素诱发蚕豆染色体畸变的比较研究

本文报道了新制癌菌素(NCS)能诱发植物染色体畸变,同时观察了利用咖啡因后处理对NCS、PYM诱发染色体畸变的影响,研究了PYM切断DNA断头的性质。结果表明,NCS切割DNA产生3'-羟基末端和3'-磷酸末端;咖啡因能封闭3'-羟基末端抑制DNA的修复,从而提高诱变频率。PYM加咖啡因后处理,其染色体畸变频率与PYM单独处理无明显差异。说明PYM切断DNA所得到的产物,不是3'-羟基末端,而是3'-磷酸末端。     

Micronucleus test and bone-marrow chromosome analysis: A comparison of 2 methods in vivo for evaluating chemically induced chromosomal alterations

The sensitivities of 2 cytogenetic tests, chromosome analysis and the micronucleus test, were compared by using mice exposed to the substances methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), mitomycin C (MC) and procarbazine (Natulan®). The lowest dose at which a significant effect could be observed in bone-marrow cells of mice was determined. Both test systems proved equally sensitive for MC and procarbazine. Doses as low as 0.16 mg of MC per kg and 3.12 mg of Natulan® per kg significantly increased both the aberration rates and the micronucleus rates above those of the controls. In contrast, after exposure to MMS, chromosomal aberrations were elevated above control levels at 5 mg/kg, and the micronucleus rate differed significantly from that of the controls after a dose of 10 mg/kg. With the present protocol and sample size one can conclude that the micronucleus test is generally comparable in sensitivity to the chromosome analysis. However, the MMS data indicate that there might be chemicals for which the resolution of the chromosome analysis is higher.

When the mutagens were given in 2 single i.p. injections separated by 24 h, the polychromatic erythrocytes were analyzed for the presence of micronuclei 6 or 24 h after the second injection. The double treatment did not increase the micronucleus rates above the single-treatment results at either sampling interval.     

拟南芥黏连蛋白RAD21对增强UV-B辐射后细胞分裂的响应

UV-B辐射对植物的影响体现在多个水平, 其会引起植物DNA损伤, 造成有丝分裂异常, 最终影响植物的生长发育及生理生化过程。RAD21.3是黏连蛋白复合物的一个亚基, 参与有丝分裂中染色体的分离。该研究以哥伦比亚生态型拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)和atrad21.3突变体为材料, 设置对照(CK)及UV-B处理组, 对野生型(WT)、atrad21.3及过表达株系的根长、株高、抽薹时间和生理生化指标进行统计分析。利用碱性品红染色观察拟南芥根尖的有丝分裂现象, 并统计畸变率。SPSS分析结果表明, UV-B处理后, WT UV-B和atrad21.3 CK的抽薹时间、株高及各项生理生化指标与WT CK相比无显著差异, 但atrad21.3 UV-B与之相比差异显著。通过烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana)的瞬时表达和亚细胞定位观察, 发现RAD21.3集中在细胞核; 进一步观察分裂期细胞发现落后染色体、染色体桥和游离染色体等异常现象。统计结果表明, 与WT CK相比, WT UV-B和atrad21.3 CK的畸变率较高, 但atrad21.3 UV-B的畸变率更高, 表明RAD21.3可能响应UV-B辐射诱导的异常有丝分裂。     

Structural and numerical chromosome aberration inducers in liver micronucleus test in rats with partial hepatectomy

The liver micronucleus test is an important method to detect pro-mutagens such as active metabolites not reaching bone marrow due to their short lifespan. We have already reported that dosing of the test compound after partial hepatectomy (PH) is essential to detect genotoxicity of numerical chromosome aberration inducers in mice [Mutat. Res. 632 (2007) 89-98]. In naive animals, the proportion of binucleated cells in rats is less than half of that in mice, which suggests a species difference in the response to chromosome aberration inducers. In the present study, we investigated the responses to structural and numerical chromosome aberration inducers in the rat liver micronucleus test. Two structural chromosome aberretion inducers (diethylnitrosamine and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine) and two numerical chromosome aberration inducers (colchicine and carbendazim) were used in the present study. PH was performed a day before or after the dosing of the test compound in 8-week old male F344 rats and hepatocytes were isolated 4 days after the PH. As a result, diethylnitrosamine and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, structural chromosome aberration inducers, exhibited significant increase in the incidence of micronucleated hepatocyte (MNH) when given either before and after PH. Colchicine and carbendazim, numerical chromosome aberration inducers, did not result in any toxicologically significant increase in MNH frequency when given before PH, while they exhibited MNH induction when given after PH. It is confirmed that dosing after PH is essential in order to detect genotoxicity of numerical chromosome aberration inducers in rats as well as in mice. Regarding the species difference, a different temporal response to colchicine was identified. Colchicine increased the incidence of MNH 4 days after PH in rats, although such induction in mice was observed 8-10 days after PH.     

Study of the mutagenic and antimutagenic activity of the human and animal blood]

Mutagenic and antimutagenic properties of humans, bull, rabbit, chick, rat, and mouse were studied using seeds of Crepis capillaries (the chromosome aberration test). Antimutagenic activity was found in pre-processing, combined, and post-processing conditions of the seeds with a blood relative to the mutation inductors. Whole human and animal blood was found to be capable of inducing chromosome aberrations far exceeding the level of spontaneous mutations. Dilution of the blood did not eliminate its antimutagenic activity.     

Melanin decreases clastogenic effects of ionizing radiation in human and mouse somatic cells and modifies the radioadaptive response

Melanin’s influence on the chromosome aberration frequency induced by radiation in human lymphocytes and mouse bone marrow cells has been studied. We revealed earlier that melanin significantly decreases the frequencies of different radiation-induced mutations in animal germ cells. Melanin protection in somatic cells has been found to be less effective. The melanin effect in somatic cells depends on radiation dose: the lower the damage level, the better the melanin protection. In order to determine the influence of melanin at low radiation doses, the adaptive response was investigated in mouse bone marrow cells in vivo. The level of chromosome aberrations in these cells after fractionated irradiation of 0.2 Gy+1.5 Gy with a 4-h interval was about half that after a single dose of 1.7 Gy. If melanin was injected prior to irradiation, the aberration level decreased by a factor of about two in both cases. This observed result may be due to the potential radioprotective effect of melanin and to the absence of any adaptive response, whereas in the case of melanin application between the priming and challenge doses, the combined effect of the adaptive response as well as melanin protection resulted in a 4-fold decrease of chromosome aberrations. These results allow us to draw the following conclusions: adaptive response can be prevented by a radioprotector such as melanin, and melanin is capable of completely removing low-dose radiation effects. Received: 2 December 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 15 September 1999     

Comparative in vivo and in vitro study of the cytogenetic effects of 153Sm-EDTMP in lymphocytes of patients with bone metastases.

153Sm-EDTMP is a radiopharmaceutical used in nuclear medicine for relief of metastatic bone pain with promising results, but there are few studies about the effects of 153Sm-EDTMP in human cells. This study was conducted for the evaluation of the cytogenetic effects of 153Sm-EDTMP in blood lymphocytes from patients with bone metastases (without previous radio or chemotherapy), using the chromosome aberration technique. The degree of cytological damage found in in vivo blood cells of patients was compared with those found in in vitro in an adjusted dose-response curve. Blood samples were collected before and 1 hr after the administration of 153Sm-EDTMP(about 42.31 MBq/kg). The frequency of structural chromosome aberration per cell observed in 1 hr samples (0.054+/-0.035 CA/cell) was higher than basal ones (0.031+/-0.026 CA/cell), although this difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.101). For in vitro assay, blood samples were exposed to different concentrations of 153Sm-EDTMP, during 1 hr (0.37-1.11 MBq/ml). An increase in the frequency of chromosome aberration per cell as a function of the radioactive concentration was found. The data were adjusted by linear regression model (Y= 3.52+/-2.24 x 10(-2) + 11.15+/-3.46 x 10(-2) X). The frequency of aberration/cell found in vivo was 0.054 and for the same activity in vitro was 0.098, this difference being statistically significant (p = 0.02). This result may be related to blood clearance, osteoblastic activity and individual variability. For a more accurate analysis, the study of more donors is necessary.     

硫酸铜对蚕豆根尖细胞有丝分裂的影响

以蚕豆根尖为材料,研究硫酸铜对蚕豆根尖细胞的遗传毒性效应。采用蚕豆根尖细胞的微核试验方法和染色体畸变试验方法,以不同浓度的硫酸铜为诱变剂,测定蚕豆根尖细胞的有丝分裂指数、微核率和染色体畸变率。结果表明:不同浓度的硫酸铜均能使蚕豆根尖细胞有丝分裂指数明显增加,即5个实验组的分裂指数均明显高于对照组(P<0.01或P<0.001);不同浓度的硫酸铜对蚕豆根尖细胞有丝分裂各期百分数的影响有异;能诱发较高频率的微核率,即在一定浓度范围内,其微核率随硫酸铜处理浓度的升高而增加,但随着硫酸铜浓度的进一步升高而呈下降趋势;硫酸铜还能诱导染色体产生多种类型的畸变,染色体畸变率随硫酸铜处理浓度的升高而增加,随着硫酸铜浓度的进一步升高而呈下降趋势,但均明显高于对照组(P<0.001)。结论是硫酸铜对蚕豆根尖细胞具有明显的遗传毒性效应。     

重铬酸钾对蚕豆根尖细胞致畸效应的研究

以蚕豆根尖为材料,研究重铬酸钾对蚕豆根尖细胞的致畸效应。采用蚕豆根尖细胞的微核试验和染色体畸变试验方法,以不同浓度的重铬酸钾为诱变剂,测定蚕豆根尖细胞的微核率和染色体畸变率。结果表明:重铬酸钾能诱发较高频率的微核率,即在一定浓度范围内,其微核率随重铬酸钾处理浓度的升高而增加,但高于一定浓度后反而呈下降趋势;不同浓度的重铬酸钾均使蚕豆根尖细胞有丝分裂指数增大;重铬酸钾还能诱导蚕豆根尖细胞产生较高频率的染色体畸变,且产生多种类型的染色体畸变。结论是重铬酸钾对蚕豆根尖细胞具有明显的致畸效应。     

微核形成与细胞周期关系的初步研究 Ⅲ.丝裂霉素c诱发人淋巴细胞染色体畸变与不同周期阶段的微核形成

为了研究染色体畸变与微核形成的关系,本实验用不同浓度的丝裂霉素C(MMC,0.025—0.4μg/ml),处理人外周血淋巴细胞,观察中期染色体畸变与不同细胞周期形成的微核间的关系。获得如下主要结果:(1)MMC诱发的染色体畸变细胞率(ACF),未经培养的G_0期淋巴细胞的微核细胞率(NC-MNCF)以及培养的淋巴细胞的微核细胞率(C-MNCF),在一定剂量范围内均呈剂量依赖性增加,并可用幂回归方程描述;(2)微核形成与染色体畸变全然无关的NC-MNCF,和C-MNCF一样,与ACF呈良好的正相关;(3)用胞质分裂阻滞(CB)法,检测MMC诱发的CB-MNCF,较C-MNCF无显著提高,MNCF/ACF的比值较小,并随着MMC剂量增加从0.15左右降到0.03。所有上述结果表明,不能简单理解微核形成与染色体畸变间的关系,在分裂的细胞群体中,中期染色体畸变可能仅是微核形成的一种来源。     

Genotoxicity and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in mammalian cells in vivo

Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) oil is widely used by the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries as a fragrance component of soaps, creams, lotions, and perfumes. Although it is popular, potential harmful side-effects of the oil have been described. We investigated the genotoxic and mutagenic potential of essential oil of R. officinalis in rodents, using comet, micronucleus and chromosome aberration assays. The animals were treated by gavage with one of three dosages of rosemary oil (300, 1000 or 2000 mg/kg). Liver and peripheral blood cells were collected from Swiss mice 24 h after treatment for the comet assay (genotoxicity endpoint), along with bone marrow cells for the micronucleus test (mutagenicity endpoint). Bone marrow cells were collected from Wistar rats 24 h after oil treatment for the micronucleus and chromosome aberration assays. Based on the comet assay, all three doses of rosemary oil induced significant increases in DNA damage in the mouse cells. There was a significant increase in micronucleated cells and chromosome aberrations only at the two higher doses. We conclude that rosemary essential oil provokes genotoxic and mutagenic effects when administered orally.     

香蕉苗试管繁殖染色体数量畸变的研究

对在常规培养以及高６－ＢＡ、高腺嘌呤、高继代数、长继代时间等培养条件下,分化芽的染色体数目变化的规律以及一些苗期变异性状与染色体数量变异的关系进行了研究。主要结果有：（１）以上因素均能不同程度地促使染色体数量畸变率增高。其中,高腺嘌呤和高继代数加长继代时间２种处理效果最明显;（２）细胞畸变以非整倍体为主,可以在培养中逐代积累、增加。植株畸变以混倍体为主,非整倍体次之。植株畸变率明显低于细胞畸变率;（３）观察到一些苗的畸变的类型以及其对应的细胞学变化。结果显示,高继代代数的苗畸变率显著增高;在继代培养中,采取用核酸盐或高激动素以及片面地选用分化率高的芽丛作进一步扩大培养,以提高分化率的做法是危险的;根据苗期的形态特征,可将部分变异苗清除     

Comparative study with the alkaline Comet assay and the chromosome aberration test

The alkaline Comet assay is becoming a useful tool for early genotoxicity testing of new pharmaceutical drug candidates. The aim of this study was to elucidate the predictive value of Comet assay results for the outcome of the chromosome aberration (CA) test. For this purpose, a validation exercise with 13 drug candidates was carried out utilizing V79 Chinese hamster cells and human lymphocytes. The study demonstrates that results of the Comet assay and the chromosome aberration test show a high degree of agreement, irrespective of the cell type used. In the Comet assay, seven compounds were positive and six were negative, while in the CA test, six were positive and seven were negative. The only discrepancy was found with one compound that was positive in the Comet assay with V79 cells, negative in the Comet assay with human lymphocytes and clearly negative in the CA test with human lymphocytes. For the selection of concentrations for testing in the Comet assay, cytotoxicity by means of cell count after incubation or viability by means of Trypan-blue dye exclusion (TBDE) were used. The results show that either parameter led to analysis of a concentration range in the Comet assay similar to that chosen in the CA test, in which cell count (when using V79 cells) or mitotic index (in case of lymphocytes) were used. However, since cell count after incubation of cells is much more labour-intensive, viability was preferred as the parameter to assess cytotoxicity and for selecting concentrations for analysis in the Comet assay. The data presented in this study may contribute the regulatory acceptance of the Comet assay, e.g. for mechanistic studies.     

Differential effects of sulphur mustard on S-phase cells of primary fibroblast cultures from Syrian hamsters

Sulphur mustard (SM) (5 × 10⁻⁸ M) given to primary Syrian hamster fibroblasts growing short-term in vitro products a very sharp peak of chromatid aberrations 12–16 h after treatment.

The composition of this peak has been investigated in relation to the cell cycle using the facility to divide S-phase into 5 cytologically defined sub-phases on the basis of replication band patterns following bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. It is shown that: (1) Considerable delay and perturbation of the cycle is present. (2) A major contribution to the aberration peak comes from pre-S cells, and the highest aberration frequencies are observed in such cells. (3) The bulk of contribution from S-cells comes from the last subphase, SkV. (4) The majority of early S cells (sub-phases SkI–IV) fail to reach division within 36 h. Of the total S-cells scored, 54% are non-SkV controls but only 14% after SM. (5) Aberrations are localized to late-replicating regions in SkV but are random in pre-S. (6) No measurable perturbation of replication programme was found in chromosome arms synthesizing in late SkV after SM. (7) The rapid fall in aberration frequency at later sampling times is consistent with a quick and efficient repair of DNA lesions which is known to occur after SM alkylation.

The preferential loss of early S cells seems most likely to result from selective lethality, though differential delay and perturbation may make a contribution. It is interesting to note that the subphases missing are just those where the euchromatin replicates (early replicating R and G bands). The late-replicating chromatin, some of which is known to be dispensable in Syrian hamster, is confined to SkV, the sub-phase which appears to survive this dose of SM.     

噻吩磺隆的毒性及致突变性

选用大鼠、豚鼠及家兔,采用经口及皮肤,粘膜染毒途径,研究其急性毒性。同时有Ames试验,小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核试验及小鼠睾丸初级精母细胞染色体畸变试验进行致突变性研究,了解噻吩磺隆的毒性及致突变性。大鼠急性经口LD50大于5000mg／kg,经皮LD50大于2000mg／kg。家兔皮肤刺激试验阴性,轻度眼刺激性和弱致敏性。Ames试验,微核试验及小鼠睾丸初级精母细胞染色体畸变试验结果均为阴性。结论 噻吩磺隆属低毒性农药,在本实验条件下无致突变作用。     

Genotoxic potential of the organochlorine insecticide lindane (gamma-BHC): an in vivo study in chicks.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of lindane (gamma-isomer of benzene hexachloride (BHC)) in chicken in vivo tests: the bone marrow chromosome aberration and micronucleus tests. With the highest dose (100 mg/kg) a significant enhancement of chromosome aberrations was noticed after 24 and 48 h and with the second highest dose (75 mg/kg) after 24 h. A significant increase in the incidence of micronuclei in bone marrow cells was induced by all three doses (100, 75 and 50 mg/kg) given either intraperitoneally or orally while in peripheral erythrocytes only the two higher intraperitoneal doses (100 and 75 mg/kg) gave significant increases. On the basis of these results, lindane may be considered genotoxic in this test system and it is suggested that the chick in vivo system may be used as an alternative to a mammalian system for screening environmental chemicals for genotoxicity.