engleski

DNA breaks in blood lymphocytes of cadmium exposed suckling rats estimated by the comet assay

The aim of this study was to evaluate possible genotoxic damage of cadmium exposure by means of alkaline single cell agar–gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) in rat blood lymphocytes. Twenty six-day old Wistar suckling rats were given an oral dose of 0.5 mg Cd/kg body weight/day during nine days (total dose: 4.5 mg Cd/kg body weight) in the form of cadmium chloride. To ten animals 6% calcium suspension (CaHPO4 x 2H2O) in cow milk was administered after cadmium chloride by artificial feeding. Animals were killed nine days after the beginning of the experiment by exsanguinations from the abdominal aorta. Collected blood samples were then analysed by the comet assay. The analysis by Man Whitney U-test established that statistically tail length and tail moment significant differed only between the control group and animals treated with cadmium and cadmium + calcium (P<0.05). Differences in tail intensity (tail % DNA) between control and exposed animals were not significant.

comet assay; suckling rats; cadmium chloride; blood lymphocytes

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