Objective: To explore the effects of DNA-protein crosslinks (DPC) of liver, kidney and spermery cell induced by microcystin-LR (MR-LR).
Methods: Kunming male mice were treated by eritoneal injection with different doses of MC-LR. The quantities of junction DNA and free DNA of liver, kidney, testicle cell were detected, and the DPC coefficient were calculated, then we can judge the degree of DNA and protein crosslinks. The DPC coefficient equal junction DNA/(junction DNA + free DNA).
Results: Of the groups treated with MC-LR, DPC formations in liver cell were observed significantly increased, in comparison it on with the control groups (P < 0.05). DPC formations in kidney cell were observed significantly increased at the doses of 3 microg/kg bw and 6 microg/kg bw MC-LR, in comparison it on with the control groups (P < 0.05), but there was no effect at the dose of 12 microg/kg bw MC-LR, in comparison it on with the control groups (P > 0.05). At the dose of 3 microg/kg bw MC-LR, DPC formation in testicle cell were not observed significantly increased, in compare it on with the control groups (P > 0.05). DPC formation in testicle cell were observed significantly increased at the dose of 6 microg/kg bw and 12 microg/kg bw MC-LR, in compare it on with the control groups (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Microcystin-LR could induce DPC formation in liver, kidney and testicle cells of male mice.