title: Mitigative role of melatonin and α-tocopherol against mercury-induced genotoxicity.
abstract: The present study was conducted to elucidate the protective effect of melatonin (MLT) and α-tocopherol on mercury-induced genotoxicity in human blood cultures. The in vitro effects of inorganic mercury added to human lymphocytes on the cell-cycle proliferative index (CCPI)/proliferation replicative index (PRI) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) using fluorescence plus Giemsa staining were examined. A significant increase occurred in SCE per metaphase (SCE/chromosome and SCE/cell) and inhibition of proliferative kinetics, which resulted in a decline of the replicative index, in comparison to the controls. Treated lymphocyte cultures also exhibited a reduction in %M1 and %M2 metaphase plates, but an increase in %M3 metaphase plates was noticed. Adding α-tocopherol and MLT individually and in combination indicated a mitigative effect by reducing the genotoxic potential of treated cultures. The percent amelioration for all the three parameters, namely, frequency of SCE, SCE/plate and SCE/chromosome as well as CCPI, was comparatively high with MLT and α-tocopherol in combination than MLT followed by α-tocopherol. The percent mitigation was better in combined antioxidant additions to toxicant-exposed cultures, compared to MLT, whereas the percent mitigation by α-tocopherol alone was less for average generation time and population doubling time, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Biomedical Technology and Human Genetics, School of Sciences, Gujarat University , Ahmedabad , India.
authors.forename: Anshita R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Purohit
authors.forename: Mandava Venkatesh
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D009153:Mutagens; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D008550:Melatonin; C004925:methylmercuric chloride