Toxicology

Biography

Biography: G Wultsch

Abstract

Exfoliated cells can be collected with non-invasive methods from different organs. It is possible to analyze nuclear aberrations which provide information about genotoxic and acute cytotoxic effects caused by exposures. Genotoxic effects lead to formation of micronuclei (MNi), nuclear buds and binucleates while acute cytotoxic effects lead to formation of pyknosis, condensed chromatin, karyorrhexis and karyolysis. Recently, a standardized protocol was developed for experiments with buccal cells and the scoring criteria can be also used for nasal cells. Several studies were conducted in which the impact of life-style exposures was investigated in these cells. Clear-cut positive effects were detected in mouth cells of heavy smokers. Furthermore, the finding indicates that MNi formation increases with exposure to tar while unexpectedly an inverse association with nicotine uptake was observed. Also khat and betel chewing led to increased MNi rates in buccal cells while coca chewing caused a protective effect. In total ca. 80 occupational studies were conducted so far with exfoliated nasal and buccal cells. Results of investigation in Austria show that significant MNi induction is detectable in nasal but not in buccal cells of welders, while in wood workers only a baseline effect was detected in both cell types. Consistently negative results were obtained in electroplaters and in workers which were exposed to chicken manure. However, evidence of acute cytotoxic effects was observed in all aforementioned studies. Overall, the findings indicate that cytome assays with exfoliated cells are a valuable tool to detect heath risks caused by exposure to genotoxins.