Frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy individuals: A study from Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

Monitoring cytogenetic damage is frequently used to assess population exposure to environmental mutagens. The cytokinesis block micronucleus assay is one of the most widely used methods employed in these studies because it offers simultaneous information on DNA damage and cytotoxic/cytostatic effects caused by possible genotoxic agents. The present study was designed to assess the genotoxic and cytotoxic damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of individuals residing in two different districts in Baghdad assuming that both of them are exposed to high level of pollutant this is done by detecting micronuclei in binucleated lymphocyte and nuclear division index The study population consisted of 163 apparently healthy. One hundred–three individuals, including (41 males and 62 females) from district 1 (Jeser Diyala ) and 60 individuals from district 2 (Alhurriya) including 35 males and 25 females. The age of study participants ranged from 15 to 46 years at the time of inclusion. The main count of binucleated lymphocytes with micronuclei (BNMN) in the total sample was 24.43±19.66. The mean count of BNMN in district 1 was 31.63±20.76 and in district 2 was 12.32±8.91. The difference between two districts was significant (P< 0.0001). The mean value of the nuclear division index (NDI) in total samples was 1.11±0.12. In district 1 was 1.14±0.14, which was significantly higher than NDI in district 2 individuals (1.07±0.06), (P< 0.001). The present study concluded that Individuals participating in the present study have been exposed to an action of one or more micronuclei-inducing agents that elicit high BNMN mean count especially in district 1 While the reduction of nuclear division index in the studied sample particularly in district 2 could be due to exposed to an agent that has cytotoxic properties affecting the cell proliferation kinetics and considered as an early marker of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. This work reveals many background data that may be of value in future genotoxicological monitoring studies in Iraq.