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

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1991 Apr 15;176(1):194-200. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(91)90908-p.

Abstract

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: i) lymphocytes not exposed to the field (control cultures); ii) lymphocytes exposed to the field; iii) lymphocytes treated with mitomycin-C and not exposed to the field; iv) 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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkylating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / radiation effects
  • Magnetics*
  • Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / drug effects
  • Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / radiation effects
  • Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / ultrastructure*
  • Mitomycin
  • Mitomycins / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Alkylating Agents
  • Mitomycins
  • Mitomycin