Comet assay protocol for Bombus atratus fat body and pericardial cells (Hymenoptera, bombini) at a safe concentration of mercury.

Comet assay protocol for Bombus atratus fat body and pericardial cells (Hymenoptera, bombini) at a safe concentration of mercury. Chemosphere. 2020 Dec;261:127752 Authors: Ceschi-Bertoli L, Vidal FAP, Balsamo PJ, Abdalla FC Abstract The decline of the Bombus population is closely related to the presence of environmental pollutants. Among these pollutants, trace metals represent a major concern, which includes mercury, a known genotoxic substance. The induction of genotoxicity may be demonstrated by the comet assay (a.k.a. single-cell gel electrophoresis), a simple and sensitive method for DNA damage estimating. The current work provided, for the first time, a protocol of comet assay for Bombus atratus using mercury as a standard chemical at safe concentrations according to the Environment National Council of Brazil, and the World Health Organization. Bees were collected and divided into three groups (n = 11 each), in which the exposed groups received a 0.2 ppb or a 1 ppb of mercury solution, and the control group received water. The bioassay was performed for 48 h at controlled temperature and humidity conditions, according to the OECD guideline toxicological test method for B. terrestris. The samples were stained with different dyes to observe the efficacy of each one. Variations of parameters in methodology, such as concentration and time of exposure to lysis solution as well as the electrophoretic process, allowed the obser...
Source: Chemosphere - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Chemosphere Source Type: research