title: Evaluation of basal micronucleus frequency and hexavalent chromium effects in fish erythrocytes.
abstract: Hexavalent chromium (Cr [VI]) genotoxicity was studied using fish micronucleus analysis in peripheral blood erythrocytes from Pimephales promelas, the fathead minnow. Forty-five- to 60-d-old fish were used to assess the spontaneous level of genotoxic damage. The genotoxic effect of Cr (VI) obtained from potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) in tests performed for 7-, 14-, and 21-d exposure periods was estimated. Significant micronucleated erythrocyte (MNE) induction was detected in fish exposed for 7 d to 2.5 mg/L of Cr (VI), and induction decreased after 21 d of exposure. The results suggest a handling effect in fish manipulated compared to those not manipulated, thus demonstrating the importance of including parallel negative controls in experimental design. Basal levels of MNE are reported, providing laboratory values for future assay quality control. The importance of determining the period with the highest expression of the genotoxic effects in this assay system was also confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pesquisas Ambientais, Divisão de Biologia, Fundação Estadual de Proteção Ambiental Henrique Luis Roessler, Avenida Dr. Salvador França, 1701, 90690-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. labbiofepam@pro.via-rs.com.br
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: de Lemos
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rödel
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Terra
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erdtmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002857:Chromium / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000502:physiology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D011192:Potassium Dichromate