Assessment of micronuclei induction in peripheral erythrocytes of fish exposed to xenobiotics under controlled conditions.
The aim of the present study was to standardize and to assess the predictive value of the cytogenetic analysis by MN test in fish erythrocytes as a biomarker for marine environmental contamination. MN frequency baseline in erythrocytes was evaluated in a number of fish species from a reference area (S. Teresa, La Spezia Gulf) and genotoxic potential of a number of common chemical contaminants and mixtures was determined in fish experimentally exposed in aquarium under controlled conditions. Fish (Scophthalmus maximus) were exposed for 3 weeks to 50 ppb of single chemicals (dialkyl phthalate, bisphenol A, tetrabromodiphenyl ether), 30 ppb nonylphenol and mixtures (North Sea oil and North Sea oil with alkylated phenols). Chromosomal damage was determined as micronuclei (MN) frequency in fish erythrocytes. Nuclear anomalies such as blebbed, notched and lobed nuclei were also recorded. Significant increase in MN frequency was observed in erythrocytes of fish exposed to bisphenol A and tetrabromodiphenylether. Chemical mixture North Sea oil+alkylated phenols induced the highest MN frequency (2.95 micronucleated cells/1000 cells compared to 1 MNcell/1000 cells in control animals). The study results revealed that micronucleus test, as an index of cumulative exposure, appears to be a sensitive model to evaluate genotoxic compounds in fish under controlled conditions.
Bolognesi
Claudia
C
Environmental Carcinogenesis Unit, National Institute for Research on Cancer, L.go Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy. claudia.bolognesi@istge.it
Perrone
Emanuela
E
Roggieri
Paola
P
Pampanin
Daniela M
DM
Sciutto
Andrea
A
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005399:Fishes / Q000097:blood*; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000097:blood; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000633:toxicity
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010578:Petroleum; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015262:Xenobiotics