Micronuclei and other nuclear anomalies levels in exfoliated buccal cells and DNA damage in leukocytes of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the genetic instability in somatic cells of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by means of study of micronuclei (MN) level in exfoliated buccal cells and DNA damage in leukocytes.

METHODS

The levels of MN in exfoliated buccal cells and DNA damage in leukocytes of 17 PCOS patients and 17 healthy women were studied. Except MN, other nuclear anomalies connected both with genotoxicity and cytotoxicity were evaluated. DNA damage was evaluated by means of the comet or singlecell gel electrophoresis assay in leukocytes.

RESULTS

The results of our study showed significantly increased frequencies of MN but not of other nuclear anomalies in exfoliated buccal cells of PCOS patients. DNA in leukocytes was also found significantly damaged compared with healthy females.

CONCLUSION

Genetic instability can have very serious consequences for PCOS patients because of established correlations of increased levels of MN and chromosomal aberration with cancer incidence. Hence, more scrupulous investigations in this area are certainly warranted.