Assessment of DNA damaging effect of aflatoxin B1 expressed by single cell gel electrophoresis in liver of Spraque-Dawley rats

Yasmin ElAmir, Mohammed Youssef, Doha Yahia

* Departments of Pathology and Clinical Pathology, ** Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt.

Corresponding author’s email: yas-oma@hotmail.com

Accept Date: Oct 17, 2012 22:39

Abstract :

This study was conducted to assess the DNA damaging effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in liver of Spraque-Dawley rats using single cell gel electrophoresis and its relation to lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant level in liver after 1 and 24 hrs of AFB1 administration. Eighteen rats were divided into three experimental groups each containing 6 rats. Rats of group (I) were considered as control. Rats of groups (II) and (III) received a single dose of AFB1 3 mg/kg body weight by gastric intubation. Animals of group II were sacrificed after 1 hr, while those of group (III) were sacrificed after 24 hrs. The liver tissue was analyzed for histopathology and DNA damage using single cell gel electrophoresis. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidants were measured in blood and liver samples of control and treated rats. It was observed that MDA was significantly increased in liver and blood after 24 hrs of AFB1 administration when compared with control group. Total antioxidants were increased in liver after 24 hrs when compared with control group. AFB1 administration led to increase in the DNA damage by approximately 2 times and 4 times after 1 hr and 24 hrs respectively. In conclusion, DNA damage increased after 24 hrs of AFB1 administration and this could be attributed to the increase of liver and blood peroxides of rats after 24 hrs.