Variability in chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, and mitogen-induced blastogenesis in peripheral lymphocytes from control individuals.

Abstract

Confidence in results from monitoring genetic end points in environmentally or occupationally exposed individuals can be improved with knowledge of the normal variability of changes in genetic end points in the general population. Confounding effects can be determined, and study interpretation can be improved by correlation of this variability with various lifestyle factors such as sex and age, smoking and drinking habits, viral infections, exposure to diagnostic X-rays, etc. Eight blood samples were taken from each of24 male and 24 female volunteers over a period of2 years. Questionnaires pertaining to lifestyle were completed at the time of each sampling. Whole blood was cultured and slides prepared for chromosome abberration (CA) or sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis. Separated mononuclear cells were cultured with a range of phytohemagglutinin concentrations, and the maximum level of mitogen-induced blastogenesis was determined by measurement of [3H]thymidine uptake. There was a significant effect of both year and season of sampling for all three end points. Because there was no consistent pattern in 2 successive years, effects were thought to be independent of season. No significant effects in any of the three end points were found with respect to sex or age nor any of the other lifestyle factors, although SCE frequency and mitogen-induced blastogenesis were nearly always higher in females than in males. These results point to the need for concurrent sampling of controls with exposed populations.

Evaluation of Genomic Damage in Peripheral Lymphocytes from Occupationally Exposed Anesthetists: Assessment of the Effects of Age, Sex, and GSTT1 Gene Polymorphism

“…It could be explained by the fact that during chronic exposure part of the chromosomal aberrations can be eliminated in vivo by the death of lymphocytes. Similarly, according to published data , results of our study indicated that the age did not seem to influence the levels CAs and SCEs in both exposed and control subjects (Table ).…”

Biological monitoring of workers exposed to emissions from petroleum plants.

“…A seasonal influence on genotoxic biomarkers in a Polish population has been already observed by Perera et al (20) and by Anderson et al (15,21) in a United Kingdom control population. Our data also confirm that there is some seasonal effect on cytogenetic damage, both in the whole population and in the unexposed subgroup where responses are higher in winter.…”