title: Application of the comet assay and detection of DNA damage in haemocytes of medicinal leech affected by aluminium pollution: a case study.
abstract: This report describes an investigation of genotoxic effects in medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana) exposed to water and sediment of Lake Njivice (Krk Island, Croatia) contaminated by aluminium compounds. The levels of primary DNA damage in leech haemocytes and loss of DNA integrity caused by acute and chronic exposure to contaminated water and sediment were investigated using the alkaline comet assay. Genotoxic effects induced by acute exposure to contaminants were evaluated on leech haemocytes and blood cells of fish and mouse treated ex vivo. The effects of chronic exposure were assessed on haemocytes sampled from an animal kept under laboratory conditions on contaminated water and sediment for 180 days. The results indicate the DNA damaging potential of aluminium compounds present in an excess amount in tested samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia. zmihalj@biol.pmf.hr
authors.forename: Zlatko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mihaljević
authors.forename: Ivancica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ternjej
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stanković
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerovec
authors.forename: Nevenka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kopjar
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D005399:Fishes; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D047709:Hirudo medicinalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000535:Aluminum