title: The effect of mitotic inhibitors on DNA strand size and radiation-associated break repair in Down syndrome fibroblasts.
abstract: The effect of mitotic inhibitors on formation and repair of DNA breaks was studied in cultured fibroblasts from patients with Down syndrome in order to investigate the hypothesis that the karyotyping procedure itself may play a role in the increased chromosome breakage seen in these cells after gamma radiation exposure. Using the nondenaturing elution and alkaline elution techniques to examine fibroblasts from Down syndrome patients and from controls, no specific abnormalities in Down syndrome cells could be detected after exposure to mitotic inhibitors, including rate and extent of elution of DNA from filters as well as repair of radiation-induced DNA breaks. In both normal and Down syndrome cell strains, however, exposure to mitotic inhibitors was associated with a decrease in cellular DNA strand size, suggesting the presence of drug-induced DNA strand breaks. The mechanism of increased chromosome sensitivity of Down syndrome cells to gamma radiation remains unknown.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kalvonjian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D003078:Colchicine