Evaluation of Dna Damage Induced by Lead Acetate  in Human Lymphocytes, Using Comet Assay

Ankita J. Shah; B. C. Lakkad; Mandava V. Rao

Volume : II, Issue : X, October - 2013

Evaluation of Dna Damage Induced by Lead Acetate in Human Lymphocytes, Using Comet Assay

Ankita J. Shah, B. C. Lakkad, Mandava V. Rao

Abstract :

ead (Pb) is present in the natural and occupational environment and it is one of the most clinically important heavy metals, because it induces a oad range of physiological, biochemical and genetical dysfunctions. Its exposure leads to an increased frequency of genetic aberrations in human beings. Hence, this investigation was conducted to assess the genotoxic effect of lead at three dosage levels. In the present study, the DNA damage was detected by adopting the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet Assay) in peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures. The result of this study revealed an increased level of DNA damage among treated groups. A significant increase in the tail length of comets and other indices was observed at 25 �g/ml and 50 �g/ml concentrations comparatively. Thus lead acetate induced single strand eaks (SSB) and double strand eaks (DSB) in DNA, alkali–labile sites (ALS), oxidative DNA damage as well as DNA–DNA / DNA–protein / DNA–metal cross linking as evidenced by the comet assay.