title: Study of the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the α-, β-, and γ- Hexachlorocyclohexane isomers in human lymphocyte cells using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay.
abstract: The genotoxic potential of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers (α-, β-, and γ-) which are organochlorine pesticides was tested in peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures from two donors by using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. Micronucleus (MN) frequency, binucleated cells with micronucleus (BNMN), and cytokinesis-blocked proliferation index (CBPI) were determined as genotoxic and cytotoxic endpoints. At the concentration ranges tested (12.5-100 μg.L-1), all HCH isomers induced dose-dependent cytotoxic effects, γ-HCH being the most toxic. This isomer was also able to induce significant increase in MN frequency and BNMN cells indicating a genotoxic potential at 50 and 100 μg.L-1. The genotoxic test of β-HCH showed a positive induction of MN and BNMN cells at the highest concentration of 100 μg.L-1and a significant cytotoxicity at 50 μg.L-1. Under the experimental condition used, α-HCH was unable to induce any significant increase in MN frequency confirming that α-HCH is a non-genotoxic agent.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology , Faculty of Sciences in Yanbu, Taibah University , Al Madinah Al Mounawra , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Soukaina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ennaceur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048749:Cytokinesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007536:Isomerism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane
keywords: HCH isomers; cytotoxicity; genotoxicity; human lymphocytes; micronucleus test