The accumulation effect of lead on DNA damage in mice blood cells of three generations and the protection of selenium.
The accumulation effect of lead on DNA damage and the protection of selenium against lead were studied in mice blood cells of three generations. The test animals were divided into four groups: controls, Pb group, Se group, Pb + Se group. Lead and Selenium were administered to mice in the drinking water. The concentrations of lead (in form of lead acetate) and selenium (in form of Kappa-selenocarrageenan) used in this paper were 1 microgram/ml and 0.25 microgram/ml respectively. The percentage of damaged cells (DNA comets) was examined and detected conveniently by the single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. Results showed that 1 microgram/ml lead did not damage the female mice blood cells of the first generation seriously. However, there was a significant damage effect in both sexes of the second and third generations, suggesting the accumulation effect of lead was very significant starting from the second generation. In addition, under normal physiological conditions, Kappa-Se did not appear to enhance the protective ability on DNA damage significantly, whereas under lead exposure conditions, administration of Kappa-Se displayed the occurrence of a good protection against lead intoxication which was started from the female mice of the second generation.
Yuan
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X
Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871 Beijing, 100085, China.
Tang
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C
D000818:Animals; D001773:Blood Cells; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010375:Pedigree; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007854:Lead; D012643:Selenium