title: Effect of beta-carotene on spontaneous and X-ray-induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells of mice.
abstract: The effect of beta-carotene on spontaneous and X-ray-induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells of mice was studied. As a source of beta-carotene, dried Dunaliella bardawil (containing 6% beta-carotene) or oil suspension of Dunaliella beta-carotene was used. In Experiment 1, mice were given a basal diet, a 0.5% Dunaliella diet, or a 4% Dunaliella diet for four weeks. In Experiment 2, mice were given an oil suspension of Dunaliella beta-carotene (300 mg/kg body wt) by gavage for seven days while being fed a fat-rich diet. After beta-carotene treatment for the indicated time, spontaneous and X-ray (0.3 Gy, whole-body)-induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells was evaluated in terms of the percentages of micronucleated reticulocytes in their peripheral blood. The beta-carotene treatment slightly lowered the spontaneous and X-ray-induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells. Despite the higher doses of beta-carotene, the concentrations of beta-carotene in bone marrow, liver, and serum were much lower than those of vitamin E. In addition, the beta-carotene treatment markedly lowered the concentration of vitamin E in the tissues.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umegaki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikegami
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000473:pathology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D004247:DNA