Genotoxicity of Nitroso Compounds and Sodium Dichromate in a Model Combining Organ Cultures of Human Nasal Epithelia and the Comet Assay

• Published in: O.R.L. Journal for oto-rhino-laryngology and its related specialties Vol. 63; no. 3; pp. 141 - 147
• Main Authors: Kleinsasser, Norbert H., Gamarra, Fernando, Bergner, Albrecht, Wallner, Barbara C., Harréus, Ulrich A., Juchhoff, Jutta, Kastenbauer, Ernst R., Huber, Rudolf M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.05.2001; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Chemical agents; Chromates - adverse effects; Comet Assay - methods; Culture Techniques; DNA Fragmentation - drug effects; DNA Fragmentation - genetics; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Epithelium - drug effects; Epithelium - pathology; Female; General aspects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Nasal Mucosa - drug effects; Nasal Mucosa - pathology; Nitroso Compounds - adverse effects; Original Paper; Toxicology; Tumors; Turbinates - drug effects; Turbinates - pathology; Xenobiotics - adverse effects; Mini organ cultures; Chromates; Nitroso compounds; Comet assay; Genotoxicity; Performance evaluation; Human; Nitroso compound; Statistical analysis; Toxicity; Tissue culture; Exploration; Epithelium; Carcinogenesis; Ecological damage; Pollutant; DNA; Nose; Epithelial cell; Genetics; Diagnosis; Technique
• ISSN: 0301-1569; 1423-0275
• DOI: 10.1159/000055730

Genotoxic effects of xenobiotics are a possible step in tumor initiation in the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract. Using the comet assay, detecting genotoxicity in human tissue has been restricted to single incubations in vitro, but in vivo most xenobiotics harm their target in a repetitive or chronic manner. Therefore, we propose a model, which provides repetitive incubations in human upper aerodigestive tract mucosa cultures. Samples of human inferior nasal turbinate mucosa (n = 25) were cultured according to a modified version of a technique originally described by Steinsvåg. On day 1 fresh samples and on days 7, 9 and 11 organ cultures were incubated with N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), sodium dichromate (Na 2 Cr 2 O 7 ) and N′-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Mucosa samples and organ cultures, respectively, underwent a modified comet assay on days 1, 7 and 11. Genotoxicity could be shown for NDEA, Na 2 Cr 2 O 7 and MNNG on days 1, 7 and 11. Duration of tissue culture and repetitive incubations did not significantly influence the results for NDEA. Nevertheless, Na 2 Cr 2 O 7 and MNNG caused higher genotoxic effects on cultures subjected to the comet assay on day 11. This model may help to assess genotoxic hazards posed by environmental pollutants that have a cumulative character in repetitive or chronic exposure in vivo.