Detection of DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes by 7 compounds using comet assay.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the DNA single strand breaks (SSB) in peripheral lymphocytes of mice, rats, and human induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS), dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA), mitomycin C (MMC), benzo (a) pyrene (BaP), cyclophosphamide (CP), and 2-aminofluorene (2-AF).


METHODS
Alkaline single cell microgel electrophoresis assay in vitro (comet assay).


RESULTS
All were positive with 2 exceptions: EMS (0.97 mmol.L-1) in mice and MMC (30 mumol.L-1) in mice and human. The lowest concentrations detectable were H2O2 (1 mumol.L-1), EMS (0.48 mmol.L-1), BaP (5.0 mumol.L-1), CP (2.0 mmol.L-1), MMC (10 mumol.L-1), DMNA (27.3 mmol.L-1), and 2-AF (62.5 mumol.L-1). CP, BaP, and 2-AF were positive only in the presence of metabolic activation system.


CONCLUSIONS
H2O2, DMNA, BaP, CP, and 2-AF induce SSB in peripheral lymphocytes of mice, rats, and human detected by comet assay, whereas MMC induces SSB only in rats, and EMS in rats and human lymphocytes.
D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000633:toxicity; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D016877:Oxidants / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley