[Protective effect of tert-butylhydroquinone on bone marrow cells in rats from cytotoxicity induced by benzene in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of tert-butylhydroquinone on bone marrow cells in rats from cytotoxicity induced by benzene in vitro.


METHODS
The bone marrow cells in rats were divided into two groups randomizedly. Cells of the control group were stimulated by 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 mmol/L benzene for 2, 4, 6 hours respectively. Cells of the tBHQ-pretreated group were treated by 100 micromol/L tBHQ for 12 hours followed by the same conditions as the control group. The DNA damage was detected by single cell gel electrophoresis assay (SCGE) and cell apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry. The activities of NAD (P) H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) in bone marrow cells of rats were also measured before benzene treatment in two groups.


RESULTS
In control group, the DNA damage and the apoptosis of bone marrow cells was increased with the growing concentration and time of benzene treatment. The DNA migration and the lengths of DNA migration of the bone marrow cells in the rats under 5, 10, 15, 20 mmol/L benzene treatment in the tBHQ-pretreated group were significantly lower than those in control group at the same time point (P < 0.05). The apoptosis of the bone marrow cells in the rats stimulated by 15, 20 mmol/L benzene for 2 hours and 10, 15, 20 mmol/L benzene for 4 hours as well as 5, 10, 15, 20 mmol/L benzene for 6 hours were also significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.05). The activities of NQO1 in the bone marrow cells in the rats were increased after tBHQ treatment (P < 0.01) (1.62 +/- 0.16 min(-1).mg(-1) vs. the control group: 0.95 +/- 0.08 min(-1).mg(-1)).


CONCLUSIONS
The benzene can induce the DNA damage and the apoptosis of bone marrow cells in rats in a time dependent and dose dependent manner to some extent. The tBHQ can protect the bone marrow cells in rats from the cytotoxicity induced by benzene, which can be partly explained by the increase of the NQO1 activity induced by tBHQ.
Zhao
Zhi-wei
ZW
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
Bi
Yong-yi
YY
Pan
Bo-qun
BQ
Zhang
Ling
L
Chen
Xiao-hui
XH
Ouyang
Jing-ping
JP
Ma
Qiang
Q
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006873:Hydroquinones; C018855:2-tert-butylhydroquinone; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); C507703:NQO1 protein, rat; D001554:Benzene