Naslov
DNA integrity of chub erythrocytes (Squalius cephalus L.) as an indicator of pollution-related genotoxicity in the River Sava

Autori
Pavlica, Mirjana ; Štambuk, Anamaria ; Malović, Lana ; Mladinić, Marin ; Klobučar, Goran Igor Vinko

Izvornik
Environmental monitoring and assessment (0167-6369) 177 (2011), 1/4; 85-94

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Comet assay; micronucleus test; chub; genotoxicity; biomonitoring

Sažetak
In this study the genotoxic potential of a freshwater environment on feral fish was investigated. Alkaline comet assay and micronucleus test (MNT) were carried out on erythrocytes of the European chub, Squalius cephalus L., collected in spring and autumn in 2005 and 2006 at three sampling sites in the River Sava, near Zagreb, Croatia. Three sampling sites of different pollution intensity were chosen: the site upstream of Zagreb as the least polluted and two downstream sites, respectively moderatelly and highly polluted. The results of the comet assay showed the lowest genotoxic influence at the least polluted site, while higher DNA damage was observed at the polluted sites. In 2005 the level of DNA damage as detected by the comet assay was much higher in the spring than in the autumn for all three sites. This correlated with higher values of hepato-somatic index observed in analysed fish and presumably indicated a reproduction related stress. Although the basal levels of DNA damage were elevated, a clear gradation of DNA damage was found due to pollution intensity in all sampling periods. The lowest cytogenetic damage as revealed by the MNT was again observed at the least polluted site. High variations in MN frequency were observed between sampling periods, although the number of micronucleated erythrocytes was consistently the highest one at the moderately polluted site. Although the comet assay exhibited more sensitivity in discriminating the genotoxic capacity of polluted sites than the MNT, it is desirable to use them both because they can reveal different aspects of DNA damage.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

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