title: Assessment of genotoxic effects of chloropyriphos and acephate by the comet assay in mice leucocytes.
abstract: Two organophosphorus (OP) pesticides (chloropyriphos and acephate) and cyclophosphamide (CP) (positive control) were tested for their ability to induce in vivo genotoxic effect in leucocytes of Swiss albino mice using the single cell gel electrophoresis assay or comet assay. The mice were administered orally with doses ranging from 0.28 to 8.96 mg/kg body weight (b. wt.) of chloropyriphos and 12.25 to 392.00 mg/kg b.wt. of acephate. The assay was performed on whole blood at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. A significant increase in mean comet tail length indicating DNA damage was observed at 24h post-treatment (P<0.05) with both pesticides in comparison to control. The damage was dose related. The mean comet tail length revealed a clear dose dependent increase. From 48 h post-treatment, a gradual decrease in mean tail length was noted. By 96 h of post-treatment the mean comet tail length reached control levels indicating repair of the damaged DNA. From the study it can be concluded that the comet assay is a sensitive assay for the detection of genotoxicity caused by pesticides.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Biology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500007, India.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahboob
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Danadevi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saleha Banu
authors.forename: Paramjit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grover
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004390:Chlorpyrifos / Q000633:toxicity*; D020552:Comet Assay; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D063088:Phosphoramides
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D007306:Insecticides; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D063088:Phosphoramides; C001969:acephate; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D004390:Chlorpyrifos