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Angela Maria de Souza Bueno,¹ Carlos Alberto de Bragança Pereira,² and M. Nazareth Rabello-Gay³

¹Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Embriologia e Genética, Florianópolis, Brazil
²Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Estatística, São Paulo, Brazil
³Instituto Butantan, Laboratório de Genética, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

We analyzed cytogenetic end points in three populations of two species of wild rodents--Akodon montensis and Oryzomys nigripes--living in an industrial, an agricultural, and a preservation area at the Itajaí Valley, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Our purpose was to evaluate the performance of the following end points in the establishment of a genotoxic profile of each area: the polychromatic/normochromatic cell ratio ; the mitotic index ; the frequency of micronucleated cells both in the bone marrow and peripheral blood ; and the frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations in the bone marrow. Preparations were obtained using conventional cytogenetic techniques. The results showed a) the role of the end points used as biomarkers in the early detection of genotoxic agents and in the identification of species and populations at higher risk ; b) the difference in sensitivity of the species selected as bioindicators in relation to the cytogenetic end points analyzed ; c) the need to use at least two sympatric species to detect the presence of genotoxins in each locality ; and d) the need to use several end points when trying to establish a genotoxic profile of an area. Key words: cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, in situ biomonitoring, wild rodent populations. Environ Health Perspect 108:1165-1169 (2000) . [Online 13 November 2000]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2000/108p1165-1169bueno/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to A. M. de Souza Bueno, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Embriologia e Genética, CCB, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil 88040-900. Telephone: 55 48 233 2323. Fax: 55 48 331 9672. E-mail: bueno@ccb.ufsc.br

We thank J.M.S. Agostini for constant support, M.A. Loureiro and C.R. Silva for helping with the rodent captures, J.F.M. Leal for stimulating discussions during the preparation of the manuscript, and FUNCITEC for financial support.

Received 3 March 2000 ; accepted 15 August 2000.