Chromosomal and Nuclear Alterations in Root Tip Cells of Allium Cepa L. Induced by Alprazolam

Abstract

Introduction:Alprazolam is a triazolobenzodiazepine used in panic disorders and other anxiety states. Target organ of Alprazolam is CNS, causing depression of respiration and consciousness.Aim:This study aimed to estimate the genotoxic potential of Alprazolam using Allium cepa test.Methods:Allium cepa is one of the most suitable plants for detecting different types of xenobiotics. The test enables the assessment of different genetic endpoints making possible damage to the DNA of humans to be predicted.Results:Alprazolam induced chromosomal (anaphase bridges, breaks, lagging and stickiness, abnormal spiralisation, multipolarity and polyploidy) and cytological aberrations, especially nuclear alterations (nuclear buds, fragmented nucleus and apoptotic bodies, cells without nucleus, binucleated and micronucleated cells), morphological alterations in shape and size of cells, spindle disturbance and polar deviation in root tip meristem cells of Allium cepa at all tested concentrations. Alprazolam also caused significant inhibition of mitotic index in these cells.Conclusion:These changes in cells are indicators of genotoxic potential of Alprazolam suggesting a need for further in vitro studies on animal and human lymphocytes as well as in vivo studies.

Heat stress tolerance assayed in four wine-producing grapevine varieties using a cytogenetic approach

“…1b). Binucleate cells occur due to phragmoplast disruption during cytokinesis (Giménez-Abián et al, 1998) and were previously explained as a consequence of the exposure to heavy metals by Frantzios et al (2000) in wheat and by Nefic et al (2013) in Allium cepa. Binucleate cells were previously observed in these grapevine varieties after heat acclimation (3 h at 32 ºC) and recovery periods (3 h at 32 ºC and 24 h at 25 ºC) in leaf mesophyll cells .…”

“…The endoreduplicated cells (Fig. 1h) correspond to numeric chromosomal anomalies (polyploidy) caused by abnormal segregation, loss of chromosomes, delay (laggard chromosomes) or chromatin stickiness (Nefic et al, 2013). Therefore, one type of chromosomal anomaly may induce other, explaining the observed anomalies in the dividing root-tips (Fig.…”

Allium cepa root meristem cells under osmotic (sorbitol) and salt (NaCl) stress in vitro

“…The MI in untreated (control) root tips of A. cepa collected from roots of small bulbs (3−4 g) placed in glass bottles filled with water ranged from 6% (Nefic et al 2013) to 15.4% (Mesi and Kopliku 2013), while in similar experiments with large bulbs (20−60 g) the MI in root tips was close to 60% (Sehgal et al 2006, Kumari et al 2009. In experiments where roots were produced from small onion bulbs (1.5−2 cm in diameter) placed in boxes with sand moistened with water, the reported MI was approximately 60% (Ateeq et al 2002, Pandey et al 2014; however, in roots produced from small bulbs grown in Hoagland's solution, the MI was 12−21% (Glińska et al 2007, Zou et al…”

Genotoxicity analysis of Fromilid and Methotrexate using Allium test

“…The chromosome assays on plants are rapid, inexpensive and do not require elaborate laboratory facilities and a wide range of genetic endpoints are available. The chromosomes of plants and animals are morphologically similar, and appear to respond to treatment with mutagens in a similar way to those of mammals and other eukaryotes (Nefic et al, 2013).…”

“…Chromosomes are relatively large, approximately 10μm long, so chromosomal aberrations can be relatively easily detected. The decrease in the mitotic index (MI) of Allium cepa meristem cells can be considered as a reliable method to determine the presence of genotoxic agents in the environment (Nefic et al 2013).…”