Biomaterial Database

Genotoxicity of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide in human TK6 lymphoblastoid cells. 2009

Guadalupe Prado, and Javed Ahmad Bhalli, and Ricard Marcos

Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-X, México, D.F., Mexico.

The genotoxic potential of the organochlorine insecticides heptachlor (HC) and its metabolite heptachlor epoxide (HCE) has been evaluated in TK6 cells, a well-established human lymphoblastoid cell line. Genotoxicity has been determined by scoring the induction of DNA breaks in the comet assay and by measuring the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in binucleated cells. The results indicate that both compounds are able to induce significant increases in the percentage of DNA in the tail, the parameter used in the comet assay, with a direct dose-response relationship. Nevertheless, both compounds were unable to induce an increase in the frequency of MN. The comet assay measures primary DNA damage, while the induction of MN measures fixed damage. Thus, our results would suggest that the DNA damage induced by the two insecticides is not fixed as chromosome damage, which would be detectable by means of the MN assay (chromosome breaks and aneuploidy).

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007306	Insecticides	Pesticides designed to control insects that are harmful to man. The insects may be directly harmful, as those acting as disease vectors, or indirectly harmful, as destroyers of crops, food products, or textile fabrics.	Insecticide
D008214	Lymphocytes	White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D009152	Mutagenicity Tests	Tests of chemical substances and physical agents for mutagenic potential. They include microbial, insect, mammalian cell, and whole animal tests.	Genetic Toxicity Tests,Genotoxicity Tests,Mutagen Screening,Tests, Genetic Toxicity,Toxicity Tests, Genetic,Genetic Toxicity Test,Genotoxicity Test,Mutagen Screenings,Mutagenicity Test,Screening, Mutagen,Screenings, Mutagen,Test, Genotoxicity,Tests, Genotoxicity,Toxicity Test, Genetic
D009153	Mutagens	Chemical agents that increase the rate of genetic mutation by interfering with the function of nucleic acids. A clastogen is a specific mutagen that causes breaks in chromosomes.	Clastogen,Clastogens,Genotoxin,Genotoxins,Mutagen
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D006533	Heptachlor	A man-made compound previously used to control termites and other insects. Even though production of heptachlor was phased out of use in the United States during the late 1980's it remains in soil and hazardous waste sites. It is clearly toxic to animals and humans but, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that heptachlor is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. (From ATSDR Public Heath Statement, April 1989)
D006534	Heptachlor Epoxide	An oxidation product of HEPTACHLOR formed by many plants and animals, including humans, after exposure to HEPTACHLOR. It has been shown to remain in soil treated with HEPTACHLOR for over fifteen years and is toxic to animals and humans. (From ATSDR Public Heath Statement, April 1989)	Epoxide, Heptachlor
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D045744	Cell Line, Tumor	A cell line derived from cultured tumor cells.	Tumor Cell Line,Cell Lines, Tumor,Line, Tumor Cell,Lines, Tumor Cell,Tumor Cell Lines
D053938	DNA Fragmentation	Splitting the DNA into shorter pieces by endonucleolytic DNA CLEAVAGE at multiple sites. It includes the internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, which along with chromatin condensation, are considered to be the hallmarks of APOPTOSIS.	DNA Degradation, Apoptotic,Apoptotic DNA Degradation,Fragmentation, DNA