In vivo cytogenetic effects of natural humic acid.
As humic compounds are naturally widespread in the environment and present in surface water, studies on their genotoxicity are justified. Humic acid (HA) has not been demonstrated to be genotoxic either in vitro or in vivo. In the present paper we investigated its activity both in intestinal and bone marrow cells following a single dose (100 mg/kg b.w. corresponding to 0.5 ml per animal of an aqueous solution of 4 g/l) of HA administered to mice by gastric intubation, to mimic the most likely route of human exposure. HA induced structural and, in particular, numerical chromosome abnormalities in intestinal cells. A marginal, non-significant induction of aneuploidy was also found in bone marrow cells.
Bernacchi
F
F
Dipartimento Scienze dell'Ambiente e del Territorio, Università di Pisa, Italy.
Ponzanelli
I
I
Minunni
M
M
Falezza
A
A
Loprieno
N
N
Barale
R
R
D000782:Aneuploidy; D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D006812:Humic Substances; D009153:Mutagens