Study on the aneuploid effects of lead and mercury using micronucleus assay and CREST staining

Objective To evaluate the aneuploid effects induced by the low concentration of lead acetate(PbAc2)and mercury chloride(HgCl2)in vitro.Methods Micronucleus morphology analysis and micronucleated cell count were performed in V79 cell after treating with low concentration of PbAc2(0.01～20.0 μmol/L)and HgCl2(0.005～10.0 μmol/L)for 18 h.Positive rates of micronucleus kinomere were determined by CREST staining.Results Micronuclear rates in PbAc2 and HgCl2 treated V79 cell were obviously increased in dose-dependent way.Rates of macro-or multi-micronuclei induced by PbAc2 and HgCl2 were much higher than those induced by clastogen(methane methyl sulfonate).Morphological changes of micronuclei induced by PbAc2 were similar to that induced by aneugen(Vincristine),while the changes of micronucleus by HgCl2 were similar to that induced by clastogen.Positive rates of micronucleus kinomere induced by PbAc2 and HgCl2 were lower than those induced by aneugen,but higher than those induced by clastogen.Conclusions The chromosome damage in V79 cells could be induced by low concentrations of PbAc2 and HgCl2.Both aneuploid and clastogen effects could be seen in HgCl2 treated cells,especially the aneuploid effects;compared to the effect of HgCl2,the aneuploid effects induced by PbAc2 seem much greater.