title: Assessment of genotoxicity of inorganic mercury in rats in vivo using both chromosomal aberration and comet assays.
abstract: The major objective of the present investigation was to assess the genotoxic effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl2), an inorganic mercury (Hg), in rats (Rattus norvegicus) using two different genetic endpoints, namely, chromosomal aberration (CA) and comet assays following both short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) exposures. The study showed that the acute exposures to HgCl2 at 2 and 5 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) induced nonsignificant effects. HgCl2 at 10 and 12 mg/kg b.w. was significantly toxic and is exhibited by the induction of different types of CAs like chromatid breaks, chromosomal breaks, clumps and damaged cells and types of comets. HgCl2 at 15 mg/kg b.w. was found to be highly toxic, as mitostatic condition of cells were observed in CA assay. Chronic exposure to the lowest dose (2 mg/kg b.w.) of HgCl2 for 15 consecutive days produced a significant genotoxicity. Although Hg was found to induce both DNA strand breakage and chromosomal breaks in a dose-dependent manner, the results of the present investigation showed that the combination of comet and CA assays provided a better choice for assessing the genotoxicity of inorganicHg.
authors: Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Coochbehar, West Bengal, India Nevada State College, Henderson, NV, USA bhowmikubkv@gmail.com.
authors: Niladri
authors: N
authors: Bhowmik
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Calcutta, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, India Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
authors: Manomita
authors: M
authors: Patra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000737:chemistry; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D020552:Comet Assay; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D008628:Mercury / Q000633:toxicity; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D008628:Mercury
keywords: DNA; Mercury; chromosomal aberration; comet assay; genotoxicity; rat