Comet electrophoresis of blood nucleated cells in genotoxicity assessment.

AIM

Genotoxicity evaluations of several different chemicals including L-4-oxalysine, 10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCT), 19-norprogesteron (ST1435), dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO), bleomycin (BLM), and mitomycin C (MMC).

METHODS

Alkaline comet assay in vitro (single cell gel) (SCG).

RESULTS

L-4-oxalysine and HCT did not cause directly DNA damage. ST1435, the subdermal implant progestin, had no effect on DNA damage until the dose level up to 4 mmol.L-1. Me2SO did not increase DNA damage at concentration below 2%, but showed a concentration-dependent DNA damage at > or = 4%. Bleomycin and mitomycin C demonstrated a strong dose-dependent DNA damage.

CONCLUSION

Comet assay as a tool to test the genotoxicity of suspected chemicals, is rapid, simple, sensitive, good reproducible, and inexpensive.