Cytological studies on onion root-tip cells treated with water-soluble extract of tobacco smoke condensate from commercial cigarettes.
The effect of water-soluble extract of tobacco smoke condensate (TSC) from two commercially available cigarettes with dirrerent types of filters was studied on the cytology of root-tip cells of onion (Allium cepa). One of the cigarettes had a 2-cm cellulose acetate filter, and the other had a filter comprised of 1 cm of cellulose acetate and 2 cm of activated charcoal. TSC from these cigarettes induced mitotic abnormalities. To investigate whether these two commercial filters could retain cigarette smoke component (s) responsible for mitotic irregularities, the cigarettes were defiltered, and TSC was prepared and tested on the young roots of onion. Observations revealed that the cytological effect of TSC from defiltered cigarettes was not significantly different from the effect of TSC from cigarettes with filters. Thus, the filters utilized in these cigarettes do not retain compound(s) responsible for mitotic irregularities in the root-tip cells of onion. With increasing concentrations (0.01% ot 0.1%) of TSC from cigarettes with filters and defiltered, precent mitotic abnormalities increased. These abnormalities included scattering, stickiness, lagging, condensation, and breaking of chromosomes during metaphase. Bridging and lagging of chromosomes were observed during anaphase.
D002875:Chromosomes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects*; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012906:Smoke; D012907:Smoking; D014026:Nicotiana
D012906:Smoke