DNA damage in T and B lymphocytes, bone marrow, spleens, and livers of rats exposed to benzene.
Single-cell gel electrophoresis assays were performed in order to evaluate DNA damage occurring in the T and B lymphocytes, spleens, bone marrow, and livers of rats exposed to benzene at a concentration of 100, 200, or 400 ppm for 2 or 4 wk. The level of t,t-muconic acid (t,t-MA), which is a urinary benzene metabolite, was determined. In the control rats, mean Olive tail moments in the T and B lymphocytes were 1.507 +/- 0.398 and 1.579 +/- 0.206, respectively. DNA damage in the T and B lymphocytes exposed to 400 ppm benzene for 4 wk caused those rats to exhibit the highest Olive tail moments, with their values measured as 4.351 +/- 0.510 and 3.140 +/- 0.631, respectively. Also, the t,t-MA levels increased directly with increasing benzene exposure time and dose during the 4 wk. After 4 wk, the levels of t,t-MA in urine from rats exposed to 100, 200, and 400 ppm were 19.30 +/- 5.62, 30.36 +/- 4.46, and 46.93 +/- 9.10 mg/g creatinine. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that benzene exposure results in significant DNA damage in the T and B lymphocytes, bone marrow, spleens, and livers of rats. DNA damage in the blood cells and organs was also discovered to vary directly with benzene exposure, in both a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. In addition, a similar trend regarding DNA damage was found in the blood cells and organs, and evidenced a good association with the level of t,t-MA in the urine.
Lee
Eunil
E
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine and Institute for Environmental Health, Medical Science Research Center, Korea University, Seoul.
Im
Hosub
H
Oh
Eunha
E
Jung
Woon-Won
WW
Kang
Hyung-Sik
HS
Sul
Donggeun
D
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D001853:Bone Marrow; D004249:DNA Damage; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013154:Spleen; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
D001554:Benzene