Cytogenetic study of buffalo under pollution of environmental conditions

Thirty-four buffalos were used in the present study. Animals were kept in three experimental groups, two groups of which were reared in polluted areas, and the third group in an agricultural area (control group). the first and second groups were exposed to industrial and automobile exhaust emissions of genotoxic agents. Comparative cytogenetic analysis was made between the three groups. The cytogenetic studies of peripheral blood lymphocytes included chromosomal aberration and sister chromatide exchange (SCE). Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the percentage of cells with total chromosomal aberrations and gaps between buffalo from polluted and agricultural areas (31+/-1.4% and 21.1+/-6.7% and 7.6+/-1.6% and 6.8+/-1%, respectively). The differences of frequencies of the total gaps between the first and second groups were significant, while it was non-significant in the total chromosomal aberrations. The frequency of sister chromatide exchange of buffalo from polluted areas was 11.8+/-1.4% compared to 8.3+/-1. 2% from the agricultural area, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). These results indicated that cytogenetic analysis of chromosomes in peripheral lymphocytes of buffalo exposed to environmental pollution allows to direct detection of mutation in somatic cell, which can be prevented.