title: Genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes exposed to arsenic and vitamin A.
abstract: Arsenic is a ubiquitous trace element and a well-established human carcinogen. In search for an 'antidote' to this global poison, this work was undertaken to study the probable beneficial effect of vitamin A upon arsenic induced genotoxicity. Peripheral blood lymphocyte culture was carried out to study the effects of arsenic at three different dose levels (0.5, 1 and 2 microg) for 24 h prior to harvesting. In addition, mutagenic in vitro effect of ethyl methanesulphonate was studied as a positive control. Genotoxic variables presented here are sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), cell cycle proliferative index/replicative index (CCPI/RI), average generation time (AGT) and population doubling time (PDT). Inevitably, arsenic treatment showed dose-dependent augmentation in the incidences of SCE and CCPI/RI together with AGT and PDT. However, vitamin A supplemented arsenic cultures demonstrated remarkable resurgence in the described genotoxic parameters. This data shows that vitamin A might be a useful interventional treatment in arsenic poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, Gujarat, India. avanigopalkrishnan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avani
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D009153:Mutagens; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D000975:Antioxidants; D009153:Mutagens; D014801:Vitamin A; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D001151:Arsenic