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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Assaying DNA Damage in Hippocampal Neurons Using the Comet Assay
Published on: December 19, 2012
Detection of DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes by 7 compounds using comet assay
Aim:
To detect the DNA single strand breaks (SSB) in peripheral lymphocytes of mice, rats, and human induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS), dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA), mitomycin C (MMC), benzo (a) pyrene (BaP), cyclophosphamide (CP), and 2-aminofluorene (2-AF).
Methods:
Alkaline single cell microgel electrophoresis assay in vitro (comet assay).
Results:
All were positive with 2 exceptions: EMS (0.97 mmol.L-1) in mice and MMC (30 mumol.L-1) in mice and human. The lowest concentrations detectable were H2O2 (1 mumol.L-1), EMS (0.48 mmol.L-1), BaP (5.0 mumol.L-1), CP (2.0 mmol.L-1), MMC (10 mumol.L-1), DMNA (27.3 mmol.L-1), and 2-AF (62.5 mumol.L-1). CP, BaP, and 2-AF were positive only in the presence of metabolic activation system.
Conclusion:
H2O2, DMNA, BaP, CP, and 2-AF induce SSB in peripheral lymphocytes of mice, rats, and human detected by comet assay, whereas MMC induces SSB only in rats, and EMS in rats and human lymphocytes.
