Application of the Comet Assay in Erythrocytes of Oreochromis Niloticus (Pisces): a Methodological Comparison
Genetics and Molecular Biology, 32, 1, 155-158 (2009) Copyright © 2009, Sociedade Brasileira de Genética. Printed in Brazil www.sbg.org.br Short Communication Application of the comet assay in erythrocytes of Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces): A methodological comparison Cintya A. Christofoletti1, José Augusto O. David2 and Carmem S. Fontanetti1 1Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. 2Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil. Abstract The present study applied the comet assay to erythrocytes of Oreochromis niloticus with the aim of improving proto- cols to detect DNA damage in these cells, by using two distinct pHs (pH = 12.1 and pH > 13) and evaluating whether there is a correspondence between silver and ethidium bromide staining. Comets were visually examined and, the frequency of cells with and without damage was obtained, as well as the distribution of classes and scores. By using the Kruskal-Wallis test, our results revealed that pH 12.1 is more effective, although both pHs can be used. Our find- ings also suggest that silver staining can substitute ethidium bromide, an expensive and highly toxic stain that re- quires specific equipment for examination. Key words: comet assay, ethidium bromide, silver staining, tilapia. Received: April 2, 2008; Accepted: September 5, 2008. The development of new methodologies and the ap- sensitivity of the blood cells of these animals to genotoxic plication of more sensitive assays to detect genotoxicity in effects (Padrangi et al., 1995; Belpaeme et al., 1998; Gon- different samples have been the subject of several scientific tijo et al., 2003).
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