engleski

Mercury chloride genotoxicity evaluated by micronucleus test in human lymphocyte culture

Mercury is naturally occurring in the biosphere, in addition, it is released into the environment by human activities, such as mining, combustion of fossil fuels and other industrial release. It is highly toxic element, which after inhalation or ingestion absorbs and deposits mainly in the kidney. The genotoxicity of mercury compounds have been investigated with a variety of genetic endpoints in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Results point to an inhibition of DNA synthesis, DNA damage, inhibition of spindle microtubule assembly, reduction in the frequency of mitosis, endoreduplication, chromosomal damages. This study was carried out to evaluate genotoxicity of mercury chloride in human lymphocytes using cytokinesis blocked micronucleus test. After 24 h and 48 h incubation of whole blood samples with mercury chloride at concentrations of 10, 50, 100 and 200 μ M, cultures were initiated and processed according standard protocol. Mitomycin C at concentration of 0, 5 μ g/ml served as positive control. One thousand binucleated cells per dose and per time were analysed. The results were analysed by chi-square. Our initial findings lead us to next conclusions: no significant differences between analysed samples were found after 24 hours of exposure to mercury chloride ; forty eight hours exposure resulted in increased frequency of micronuclei, but not in dose response way. This preliminary study was aimed to evaluate suitability of micronucleus test in mercury genotoxicity at applied doses. Further study with some improvements in design and more donors will provide more reliable results.

mercury chloride; cytochalasin B blocked micronucleus assay; blood lymphocyte culture

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