Chromosome aberrations and DNA strand breaks in glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) chicks fed environmentally contaminated gull eggs.
In this present laboratory study, our results suggest that a complex mixture of pollutants found in the marine environment exerts genotoxic effects on glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) chicks fed environmentally contaminated gull eggs. Chromosome aberrations, quantified by cytogenetic analysis of blood cells, and DNA strand breaks, quantified by agarose gel electrophoresis and image data analysis, were determined in glaucous gull chicks fed environmentally contaminated gull eggs (exposed group) and in chicks fed hen eggs (control group). For both female and male gulls, the fraction of damaged metaphases was quantitatively higher in exposed than in control groups. On the other hand, the differences between the control and the exposed groups were more relevant when the chromosomal aberration data were treated as group totals rather than at the individual level. Consistent results were obtained in the DNA strand break analyses. The control group appeared to display a greater median molecular length (MML) than the exposed group.
Krøkje
Ase
A
Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. Ase.Krokje@bio.ntnu.no
Bingham
Chris
C
Tuven
Ruth Husmo
RH
Gabrielsen
Geir Wing
GW
D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D046091:Charadriiformes; D002645:Chickens; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004249:DNA Damage; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls