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DNA integrity of chub erythrocytes (Squalius cephalus L.) as an indicator of pollution-related genotoxicity in the River Sava

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Abstract

An alkaline comet assay and a micronucleus test were carried out on erythrocytes of the European chub, Squalius cephalus L., collected in spring and autumn in 2005 and 2006 at three sampling sites in River Sava, near Zagreb, Croatia. The results of comet assay showed the lowest genotoxic influence at the least polluted site, while higher DNA damage was observed at the polluted sites. Although the basal levels of DNA damage were elevated, a clear gradation of DNA damage was found due to pollution intensity in all sampling periods. The lowest cytogenetic damage as revealed by the micronucleus test (MNT) was observed as well at the least polluted site. High variations in MN frequency were observed between sampling periods, although the number of micronucleated erythrocytes was consistently the highest one at the polluted site. The comet assay as a biomarker of genotoxic effect exhibited higher sensitivity in discriminating the genotoxic capacity of studied polluted sites while the MNT was less sensitive. However, both tests should be used together in biomonitoring studies because they can reveal different aspects of DNA damage; comet assay, the early event of genotoxic exposure, and MNT, its final result as a mutagenic potential.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Mirjana Pavlica

  2. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Anamaria Štambuk, Lana Malović & Göran I. V. Klobučar

  3. Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Mutagenesis Unit, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Marin Mladinić

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  1. Mirjana Pavlica
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  2. Anamaria Štambuk
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  3. Lana Malović
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  4. Marin Mladinić
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  5. Göran I. V. Klobučar
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Correspondence to Mirjana Pavlica.

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Pavlica, M., Štambuk, A., Malović, L. et al. DNA integrity of chub erythrocytes (Squalius cephalus L.) as an indicator of pollution-related genotoxicity in the River Sava. Environ Monit Assess 177, 85–94 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1620-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1620-3

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