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[Corpuscular mutagenesis and its prevention]
Vestnik Rossiiskoi Akademii Meditsinskikh Nauk
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Chrysotile-asbestos and zeolites cause mutations, likely via active oxygen species. Antioxidants like ascorbic acid and bemitil can mitigate these mutagenic effects in vitro and in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Chrysotile-asbestos and zeolites are environmental dusts with known health risks.
- The role of active oxygen species in the mutagenicity of these particulates is not fully understood.
- Investigating protective agents against particulate-induced mutagenicity is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the carcinogenic and mutagenic activity of chrysotile-asbestos and zeolites.
- To elucidate the role of active oxygen species in their cytotoxic and mutagenic actions.
- To evaluate the protective effects of antioxidants and specific drugs against particulate-induced mutagenesis.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted using cultured human whole blood and C57B1/6 mice.
- Mutagenic effects were assessed by observing chromosomal aberrations in cells.
- The efficacy of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbic acid, rutin, bemitil, and thomersol was tested.
Main Results:
- Superoxide dismutase and catalase inhibited mutagenic effects of asbestos and zeolites in vitro.
- Exposure to chrysotile-asbestos and zeolites increased chromosomal aberrations in mouse cells.
- Ascorbic acid, rutin, bemitil, and thomersol reduced the clustogenic action of these dusts.
- Bemitil demonstrated significant protection against chrysotile-asbestos-induced mutagenicity in vivo.
Conclusions:
- The mutagenic effects of chrysotile-asbestos and zeolites are mediated by active oxygen species.
- In vitro and in vivo models are adequate for studying particulate-induced mutagenesis.
- Antioxidants and certain drugs show potential in mitigating the harmful effects of these environmental dusts.