Induction by inorganic metal salts of sister chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations in human and Syrian hamster cell strains

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Environ. Mutagen.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/em.2860030602· OSTI ID:5336567

Larramendy, M L; Popescu, N C; DiPaolo, J A

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosome aberration induction were determined for several inorganic metal salts. Arsenic, nickel, and beryllium salts at concentrations effective in causing transformation of Syrian hamster cells (HEC) induced SCE and chromosome aberrations of HEC and human lymphocytes, whereas sodium tungstate, a non-transforming chemical, neither induced SCE nor chromosome aberrations. Normal human and hamster cells exhibited equal sensitivity to SCE induction; nontoxic concentrations of sodium arsenite, beryllium sulfate, and nickel sulfate caused an increase of 8-10 SCE/cell over control values. Sodium arsenite, a trivalent arsenic, and sodium arsenate, a pentavalent arsenic, produced increases in SCE but the former was effective at lower concentrations. Both arsenic salts were less efficient in inducing SCE in human whole blood than in purified lymphocyte cultures. Sodium arsenite, sodium arsenate, nickel sulfate, and beryllium sulfate also caused damage consisting primarily of chromatid type of aberrations. In HEC, with doses most effective in SCE induction , all four metals produced aberrations in 16-21% of cells. In human lymphocytes, 34 and 30% of the cells had chromosome damage after sodium arsenite and sodium arsenate, respectively, whereas beryllium sulfate or nickel sulfate caused damage in about 10% of the cells. The induction of SCE and chromosomal aberrations by metals reemphasizes the sensitivity of cytological assays and their importance for detecting genetic damage caused by carcinogens.

• Research Organization: National Cancer Inst., Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 5336567
• Journal Information: Environ. Mutagen.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Mutagen.; (United States) Vol. 3:6; ISSN ENMUD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560301* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Cells-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ARSENIC
BERYLLIUM
CARCINOGENS
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
ELEMENTS
HAMSTERS
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
METALS
MUTAGEN SCREENING
MUTATIONS
NICKEL
ONCOGENIC TRANSFORMATIONS
RODENTS
SCREENING
SEMIMETALS
SISTER CHROMATID EXCHANGES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES