title: Acellular comet assay: a tool for assessing variables influencing the alkaline comet assay.
abstract: In this study, an acellular modification to the alkaline comet assay to further evaluate key variables within the assay that may influence the outcome of genotoxicity studies is described. This acellular comet assay can detect differences of 0.2 Gy of (60)Co gamma-ray radiation between 0 and 1 Gy and differences of 1 Gy between 0 and 8 Gy; thus, this assay is applicable for a wide range of DNA damage levels. It is also shown that DNA damage from different radiation energies was not significantly different from (60)Co gamma-ray. This assay displayed a statistical increase in DNA damage due to uncontrolled exposure to natural light; however, the slope of the dose-response curve for light-exposed samples was similar to that for samples protected from light. A comparison of the alkaline comet assay with the acellular comet assay allowed for the intrinsic repair capacity of the alkaline comet assay to be quantified.
authors.affiliation: Capabilities for Asymmetric and Radiological Defence and Simulation, Defence R&D Canada - Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0Z4. erin.kennedy@drdc-rddc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Erin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McNamee
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prud'homme Lalonde
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes