Open AccessDNA Damage in the Tissues of White Rats Exposed to Wildfire Smoke
Author(s) -
Е. А. Капустина,
Vera A. Vokina,
Elizaveta S. Andreeva
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
žurnal mediko-biologičeskih issledovanij
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2687-1491
pISSN - 2542-1298
DOI - 10.37482/2687-1491-z071
Subject(s) - offspring , dna methylation , smoke , comet assay , biology , litter , andrology , population , dna damage , physiology , carcinogen , toxicology , pregnancy , genetics , dna , medicine , chemistry , gene , ecology , gene expression , environmental health , organic chemistry
Wildfire smoke affects the health of the population of the entire planet and each year the situation is getting worse. Fire smoke has mutagenic, carcinogenic and other long-term effects. The aim of this paper was to study the genotoxic effect of wildfire smoke on male white rats and the transgenerational effect of wildfire smoke on their offspring. Smoke exposure simulation was performed on 40 male white rats in 200-litre exposure chambers. Forest litter, branches, fallen bark, and the upper layer of soil served as a combustible substrate. The exposure was carried out for 4 hours 5 days a week in the course of 4 weeks. Offspring of both sexes were obtained from the exposed animals and intact females. We analysed DNA fragmentation and global DNA methylation in the gonadal tissue and blood cells of the exposed animals immediately after the exposure and global DNA methylation in the blood cells of the offspring upon reaching sexual maturity. The research was performed using the comet assay with modifications to study global DNA methylation with MspI and HpaII restriction enzymes. The exposed animals showed an increased level of global DNA methylation in their blood cells. In male offspring, a decrease in the level of global DNA methylation in the blood cells was revealed, compared with the controls, while females showed no differences from the controls. The established facts of changes in global DNA methylation after exposure to wildfire smoke require further in-depth research, since the mechanism of the development of this phenomenon remains rather unclear.