Evaluation of the genotoxic effect of heavy metals in pigeons from urban and rural habitat in Monterrey, Mexico, using the chromatin dispersion assay
Juan Carlos Chayña Contreras, Elva I. Cortés‐Gutiérrez, Juan A. García-Salas, Martha I. Dávila‐Rodríguez, Jaqueline García‐Hernández
Abstract
PURPOSE: Evaluate genotoxic effect of heavy metals on Pigeon Erythrocytes (PE) from urban and rural habitat (outside of the city) in Monterrey, Mexico, using the chromatin dispersion assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We quantified metals concentrations (Cd, Hg, Cu and Pb) in tail feathers of 22 pigeons from an urban and a rural site in northeastern Mexico. DNA damage in peripheral blood erythrocytes was measured by chromatin dispersion assay in 13 pigeon living in urban habitat and in nine living in rural habitat as the control. MicroNucleus (MN) test was used to confirm levels of DNA damage. RESULTS: < 0.05). Our results showed a significant increase of DNA damage in urban-habitat pigeons compared with that of pigeons in rural area. These results were confirmed by a MN test. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary findings demonstrate that PE examination via chromatin dispersion assay is a reliable, precise and inexpensive morphological bioassay for evaluating environmental genotoxicity associated with heavy metals. Further studies for evaluating the individual participation of contaminants in DNA damage are needed.