Spontaneous and mitomycin-C-induced micronuclei in human lymphocytes exposed to extremely low frequency pulsed magnetic fields

Journal Article · Mon Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-291X(91)90908-P· OSTI ID:5798878

Scarfi, M R; Bersani, F; Cossarizza, A; Monti, D; Castellani, G; Cadossi, R; Franceschetti, G; Franceschi, C ^[1]

---

1. Istituto di Ricerca per l'Elettromagnetismo e i Componenti Elettronici Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli (Italy)

The cytokinesis block micronucleus method, a very sensitive cytogenetic assay, was used to ascertain the possible genotoxic effects of extremely low frequency pulsed magnetic fields in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes cultures from 16 healthy donors. Four conditions were studied: lymphocytes not exposed to the field (control cultures); lymphocytes exposed to the field; lymphocytes treated with mitomycin-C and not exposed to the field; and lymphocytes treated with mitomycin-C and exposed to the field. Mitomycin-C-treated cultures were used as control for the micronucleus method, because it is known that mitomycin-C is a potent genotoxic agent, capable of inducing micronuclei. The frequency of micronuclei in field-exposed cultures was similar to the spontaneous frequency observed in control unexposed-cultures. Moreover, the exposure to pulsed magnetic fields did not affect the frequency of micronuclei induced by mitomycin-C, suggesting that, in the experimental conditions used, this kind of field neither affected the integrity of chromosomes nor interfered with the genotoxic activity of mitomycin-C.

• OSTI ID: 5798878
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications; (USA), Vol. 176:1; ISSN 0006-291X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GENETIC EFFECTS
LYMPHOCYTES
SENSITIVITY
ALKYLATING AGENTS
CELL NUCLEI
MAN
MITOMYCIN
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
ANTIBIOTICS
ANTIMITOTIC DRUGS
ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DRUGS
LEUKOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
PRIMATES
RADIATIONS
SOMATIC CELLS
VERTEBRATES
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects