Malsegregation as a possible mechanism of aneuploidy induction by metal salts in MRC-5 human cells

7- SEOANE ANALÍA I, GÜERCI ALBA M Y DULOUT FERNANDO N.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS

Wiley- Liss, Inc.

Lugar: New York-Chichester-Brisbane-Toronto- Singapore; Año: 2002 vol. 40 p. 200 - 206

0893-6692

Many aneugenic compounds are know to affect one or more components of the mitotic apparatus  leading to an erroneous  migration of chromosomes. Malsegregation occurs when a chromosome (or a chromatid) fails to migrate and remains at the metaphase plate. Nondisjunction implies the lack of dissociation between sister chromatids and the migration of both together to the same pole. The aim of the present study was to provide evidence that the aneugenic  effect of some metal salts is the consequence of malsegregation at anaphase and that it is not caused by nondisjunction mechanisms. The frequencies of lagging chromosomes at anaphase-telophase of mitosis, hypoploid metaphases, and kinetochore-positive micronucleid induced by cadmium chloride, potassium dichromate, and cacodilic acid (dimethylarsinic acid) in MRC-5 human cells were compared. The data indicate that all the tested compounds are able to induce aneuploidy in MRC-5 human cells. Positive, statistically  significant correlations were found when kinetochore-positive micronuclei, hypoploidy, and lagging  chromosome frequencies were compared. The results suggest that malsegregation is the main mechanism involved in the introduction of aneuplody by metal salts in MRC-5 cells.