title: Detection of DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes by 7 compounds using comet assay.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: 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