Flow cytometric DNA analysis of ducks accumulating 137Cs on a reactor reservoir

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 1991-06, Vol.21 (3), p.337-347
• Main Authors: George, L.S., Dallas, C.E., Brisbin, I.L., Evans, D.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects; 560162 - Radionuclide Effects, Kinetics, & Toxicology- Animals, Plants, Microorganisms, & Cells; ABANDONED SITES; ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; ANIMALS; Applied ecology; Aves; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; BIRDS; BLOOD; BLOOD CELLS; BODY BURDEN; BODY FLUIDS; CELL CYCLE; Cell Cycle - radiation effects; CELL FLOW SYSTEMS; CESIUM 137; CESIUM ISOTOPES; Cesium Radioisotopes; CONTAMINATION; COOLING PONDS; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; DNA; DNA - blood; DNA - genetics; DNA - radiation effects; DUCKS; Ducks - blood; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; ERYTHROCYTES; Erythrocytes - cytology; Erythrocytes - radiation effects; FEDERAL REGION IV; Flow Cytometry - methods; FOWL; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENETIC EFFECTS; GENETIC RADIATION EFFECTS; INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI; ISOTOPES; Male; MATERIALS; NORTH AMERICA; NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; Nuclear Reactors; NUCLEI; NUCLEIC ACIDS; ODD-EVEN NUCLEI; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PONDS; RADIATION EFFECTS; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; RADIOISOTOPES; REACTORS; Reference Values; SOUTH CAROLINA; SURFACE WATERS; Time Factors; USA; VERTEBRATES; WATER RESERVOIRS; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/0147-6513(91)90073-X

The objective of this study was to detect red blood cell (rbc) DNA abnormalities in male, gamefram mallard ducks as they ranged freely and accumulated 137Cs (radiocesium) from an abandoned nuclear reactor cooling reservoir. Prior to release, the ducks were tamed to enable recapture at will. Flow cytometric measurements conducted at intervals during the first year of exposure yielded cell cycle percentages of DNA ( G 0 G 1 , S, G 2 + M phases) of rbc, as well as coefficients of variation (CV) in the G 0 G 1 phase. DNA histograms of exposed ducks were compared with two sets of controls which were maintained 30 and 150 miles from the study site. 137Cs live whole-body burdens were also measured in these animals in a parallel kinetics study, and an approximate steady-state equilibrium was attained after about 8 months. DNA histograms from 2 of the 14 contaminated ducks revealed DNA aneuploid-like patterns after 9 months exposure. These two ducks were removed from the experiment at this time, and when sampled again 1 month later, one continued to exhibit DNA aneuploidy. None of the control DNA histograms demonstrated DNA aneuploid-like patterns. There were no significant differences in cell cycle percentages at any time point between control and exposed animals. A significant increase in CV was observed at 9 months exposure, but after removal of the two ducks with DNA aneuploidy, no significant difference was detected in the group monitored after 12 months exposure. An increased variation in the DNA and DNA aneuploidy could, therefore, be detected in duck rbc using flow cytometric analysis, with the onset of these effects being related to the attainment of maximal levels of 137Cs body burdens in the exposed animals.