Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis Assay of Porcine Leydig Cell DNA Damage Induced by Zearalenone

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effect of zearalenone (ZEN) on DNA damage of porcine leydig cells. [Method] Porcine leydig cells cultured in vitro were collected to determine the median lethal dose (LD50) of ZEN with tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT assay). Comet assay was carried out to detect the DNA damage of porcine leydig cells exposed to at 0 (negative group), 1, 5, 10, 20, 40 μmol/L of ZEN. [Result] The percentage of cell tail was 16.67%, 34.00%, 40.67%, 52.00% and 64.67% under 0, 1, 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L of ZEN, respectively; the differences between the percentages of cell tail in various experimental groups had extremely significant statistical significance compared with the negative group (P<0.01), showing a significant dose-effect relationship; Tail length in various groups was 57.60±4.78, 57.75±6.25, 78.97±5.83, 100.50±6.94 and 146.83±12.31 μm, respectively; Tail DNA % in various groups was 21.29±2.25%, 22.24±2.43%, 31.21±6.27%, 37.45±4.33% and 60.68±9.83%, respectively; Tail length and Tail DNA % in experimental groups with ZEN concentration above 5 μmol/L showed significant differences (P<0.05) compared with the negative group, which showed an upward trend with the increase of ZEN concentration. [Conclusion] ZEN has genotoxic effect on porcine leydig cells, which can cause DNA damage, with a significant dose-effect relationship.

Comet assay and cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus test for monitoring the genotoxic effects of X-ray radiation in humans

Obejctive To assess the genotoxic effects of X ray radiation on human populations Methods The single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and cytokinesis blocked micronucleus (CBMN) test were applied as biological dosimeters to detect DNA damage and abnormalities in human peripheral lymphocytes of subpopulation exposed to X ray radiation The subjects were divided into four groups: 12 radiation patients; 13 intervention radiation therapy doctors; 32 radiation diagnostians; 28 controls Results The average comet lengths of the four groups were 128 17±4 49?μm, 88 09±5 39?μm, 72 68±2 57?μm and 32 87±0 57?μm, respectively The difference in average comet length between any two groups was highly significant ( P <0 01) The average micronucleated cell (MNC) rates (‰) of the four groups were 12 33±0 85, 9 75±1 02, 8 48±0 66 and 3 18±0 36, respectively The difference of MNC rates of Group 1 vs 3, 1 vs 4, 2 vs 4 and 3 vs 4 was highly significant ( P <0 01), and the difference of Group 1 vs 2 was significant ( P <0 05), but there was no difference of MNC rate in Group 2 vs 3 ( P >0 05) Conclusions This study showed that both the comet assay and the CBMN test could be used to monitor populations exposed to X ray radiation, but the comet assay seems to be more sensitive than the CBMN test