title: Genotoxic effects of chromium(VI) and cadmium(II) in human blood lymphocytes using the electron microscopy in situ end-labeling (EM-ISEL) assay.
abstract: Evaluation of genotoxic effects of potassium chromate (K2CrO4) and cadmium chloride (CdCl2) was carried out in human blood lymphocytes in vitro as measured by the electron microscopy in situ end-labeling (EM-ISEL). EM-ISEL was used to assess DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) expressed as number of immunogold particles per microm2 of chromatin at both chromosomal and nuclear DNA levels. Human lymphocytes were cultured in supplemented RPMI medium for 72 h including treatment for 2 h with K2CrO4 (0-150 microM), CdCl2 (0-150 microM) or methyl methanesulfonate (500 microM) as a positive control. Quantification of SSBs by EM-ISEL showed that both compounds are genotoxic agents at non-cytotoxic concentrations. This study brings new information on the utility of EM-ISEL for the evaluation of genotoxicity and confirms the genotoxic effects induced by chromium and cadmium.
authors.affiliation: Département de pathologie et biologie cellulaire, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3J7.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Depault
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cojocaru
authors.forename: Fléchère
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.forename: Saroj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lemieux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002840:Chromates / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron / Q000379:methods*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002840:Chromates; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D009153:Mutagens; D017680:Potassium Compounds; C027373:potassium chromate(VI); D019256:Cadmium Chloride