The genotoxicity of methyl mercury chloride (MMC, 0-25 X 10(-6) M) and dimethyl mercury (DMM, 0-434 X 10(-6) M) was evaluated by chromosome metaphase analysis in human lymphocytes treated in vitro for 24 h. Structural (CA) and numerical (AN) chromosomal aberrations were scored for the assessment of induced genotoxic effects, while the variation in mitotic index (MI) was considered a monitor for induced cellular toxicity. MMC induced CA and AN in a dose-related manner at doses exceeding 0.6 X 10(-6) M, and the proportion of cells with CA was constantly and significantly higher than that of cells with AN. DMM was able to induce both effects as well. although to a lesser extent than MMC, CA and AN being induced at doses exceeding 43.4 X 10(-6) M and 1.73 X 10(-6) M, respectively. MMC was 6-fold more effective in inducing CA than DMM at equivalent toxic doses. On the other hand, no significant difference was observed between the two compounds in inducing AN. Therefore MMC was much more clastogenic than DMM, whereas mitotic spindle disturbances appeared to be almost equally induced by both compounds.

Genotoxic activity of methyl mercury chloride and dimethyl mercury in human lymphocytes

BARALE, ROBERTO
1992-01-01

Abstract

The genotoxicity of methyl mercury chloride (MMC, 0-25 X 10(-6) M) and dimethyl mercury (DMM, 0-434 X 10(-6) M) was evaluated by chromosome metaphase analysis in human lymphocytes treated in vitro for 24 h. Structural (CA) and numerical (AN) chromosomal aberrations were scored for the assessment of induced genotoxic effects, while the variation in mitotic index (MI) was considered a monitor for induced cellular toxicity. MMC induced CA and AN in a dose-related manner at doses exceeding 0.6 X 10(-6) M, and the proportion of cells with CA was constantly and significantly higher than that of cells with AN. DMM was able to induce both effects as well. although to a lesser extent than MMC, CA and AN being induced at doses exceeding 43.4 X 10(-6) M and 1.73 X 10(-6) M, respectively. MMC was 6-fold more effective in inducing CA than DMM at equivalent toxic doses. On the other hand, no significant difference was observed between the two compounds in inducing AN. Therefore MMC was much more clastogenic than DMM, whereas mitotic spindle disturbances appeared to be almost equally induced by both compounds.
1992
Betti, C; Davini, T; Barale, Roberto
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/16909
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 5
  • Scopus 48
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 45
social impact