Cytogenetic analysis of nuclear abnormalities in the erythrocytes of gecko lizards (Phyllopezus periosus) collected in a semi-arid region of northeast Brazil: Possible effects of natural background radioactivity.

Autor: Silva JM; Programa de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio, Ambiente da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil., Navoni JA; Programa de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio, Ambiente da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Uso Sustentável de Recursos Naturais do Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, IFRN, Brazil., Amaral VS; Programa de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio, Ambiente da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, UFRN, Brazil., Freire EMX; Programa de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio, Ambiente da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia, UFRN, Brazil. Electronic address: elizajuju1000@gmail.com.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis [Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen] 2021 May; Vol. 865, pp. 503346. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Mar 04.
DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2021.503346
Abstrakt: High natural-background radioactivity levels occur in the semi-arid region of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. We have studied the lizard Phyllopezus periosus, an endemic species of the Brazilian caatinga with saxicolous habitat, as a bioindicator of environmental quality. Specimens were collected in three areas, an environmental protection area and two areas recognized as having high natural background radiation, one of these being a mining area. Level of metals and gamma radiation emitters present in the water sources potentially used by the lizards were measured. The biological endpoints assessed were micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities in blood samples. Significant differences in background radioactivity levels were found among the assessed areas. Statistically significant differences in micronuclei and nuclear abnormality frequencies were seen, among the study areas and a relationship between radioactivity level and genetic damage was observed.
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Databáze: MEDLINE