Differences in the number of micronucleated erythrocytes among young and adult animals including humans. Spontaneous micronuclei in 43 species

In our previous report we speculated about the possibility that some species had high levels of spontaneous micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE) just in a juvenile stage, this is, that the MNE diminish as the reticuloendothelial system matures. Here we show this effect in species including rat, rabbit, pig, dog, cat, gray squirrel, lion, giraffe, white-tailed deer, opossum and even human. The number of spontaneous MNE that we found in 43 species is shown, and the proportions of polychromatic and normochromatic. This is our third report on spontaneous MNE in different species. We obtained 189 peripheral blood samples of mammals, birds and reptiles. From 12 species we obtained only one sample, and 16 were reported previously, but now the size of the sample has been increased. The species with the highest spontaneous MNE were the Vietnamese potbelly pig (with the highest MNE number), Bengal tiger, capuchin monkey, puma, ferret, owl, hedgehog, squirrel monkey, pig and white-tailed deer. These species could be used as monitors for genotoxic events.

Variation of micronucleated erythrocytes in peripheral blood of Sciurus aureogaster in relation to age: an increment of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes after the administration of colchicine

In some species, in which the human is included, the influence of age in the variation in the number of micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE) is known. In the present work we show how the process of aging influences the number of spontaneous MNE in the gray squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster). Because of the difficulty of knowing the age of each animal, 69 animals were weighed at their arrival to the laboratory and at the start of sample taking, with the supposition that the heaviest animals were the oldest and those with the lightest weight were the youngest. The major number of MNE was found in the younger animals, whereas the adults displayed less MNE (P < 0.0001). A group of 11 animals were sampled every 15 days over a period of 6 months, and the number of MNE were found to decrease with an increment in the weight in conformity with the time elapsed. These results showed that in the gray squirrel, the number of spontaneous MNE in peripheral blood depend on age. An additional interesting datum about the increment of MNE after the administration of colchicine is shown.

Spontaneous micronuclei in peripheral blood erythrocytes from 54 animal species (mammals, reptiles and birds): part two

The normal numbers of micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE) observed in peripheral blood samples differ among species. This depends on the effectiveness of the spleen (or the rest of the reticuloendothelial system) to withdraw them from circulation. In our previous report, we assessed the number of MNE in the peripheral blood of 35 mammalian species. Here we show the results observed in 54 species including mammals, reptiles and birds. We obtained 212 peripheral blood samples from different species. In 14 species, only one individual was studied. Slides were stained with acridine orange. The total number of MNE (normo and polychromatic) in 10,000 erythrocytes per animal are shown. The species that display the higher MNE were: ocelote, lynx, owl, gray squirrel, hedgehog, lion, orange fronted parakeet and common barn owl. For this reason, these species could be tested as monitors for genotoxic events. Another interesting observation was that in the gray squirrel, we found the highest values of MNE in the smaller (younger) animals when compared with the larger (older) of the same species.

Induction of micronuclei in the domestic cat (Felis domesticus) peripheral blood by colchicine and cytosine-arabinoside

One advantage of bioassays over other kinds of tests is the processing or metabolism of the compound by the organism. In a previous work, in which we reported the number of micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE) in the peripheral blood of 35 species, the cat was one of the species with the highest number of micronuclei (MN). Cats have a low level of circulating polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE), i.e. 0.05%, which is much lower than in the laboratory mouse, but higher than in species such as cows, donkeys, sheep, goats and horses. Thus, MN were scored in total blood erythrocytes. In the present work, we assess the cat as a test system for MN induction. Three doses of a colchicine-cytosine arabinoside mixture were administered to young cats during 4 days; then, the numbers of MNE in blood collected before the first injection and 48 and 96 h later were compared. The number of MNE increased with time, reaching the highest values in the samples taken 96 h after the administration of the micronucleogenic agents.