Detecting Protective Effect of Tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) on Cytotoxicity of Bone Marrow Cells Induced by Benzene with Comet Assay

Objective To investigate the protective effect of tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) on cytotoxicity to bone marrow cells induced by benzene in vitro with comet assay. Methods Rat bone marrow cells were divided into two groups randomly.Cells of control group were stimulated by 0,5,10,15,20 mmol/L benzene for 2,4,6 h respectively after being treated by 100μmol/L tBHQ for 12 h. DNA damage was assessed with comet array by calculating DNA migration and the lengths of DNA migration of bone marrow cells. Results DNA damage of bone marrow cells increased with the increase of benzene concentration and time of treatment. DNA migration and the lengths of DNA migration of rats bone marrow cells under 5,10,15,20 mmol/L benzene treatment in tBHQ-pretreated group were significant lower than those in control group at the same time point(P0.05).Conclusion It indicates that benzene can induce DNA damage of bone marrow cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner to some extent. tBHQ can protect bone marrow cells against cytotoxicity induced by benzene.