The comparative study of different species could be of interest, both applied and pure, to the field of cytogenetic damage induced by genotoxic agents. For as accurate as possible an evaluation of the inter-species response differences to radiation, we have carried out a comparison between the behaviors of human and canine lymphocytes, using the micronucleus assay (MN test) according to the cytokinesis-block method. Up to 4 Gy doses, canine lymphocytes have been found to be about three times more radiosensitive than human lymphocytes, due to blastization inhibition (binucleation failure), and, for 1 and 2 Gy doses, about 1.3 times more radiosensitive, due to MN yields. We discuss whether the differing chromosome number (dog 78 and man 46) could have any effect on the cytogenetic response. 3-Aminobenzamide, which inhibits poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase activity, is able to increase the genotoxic effect of X-rays in human lymphocytes, with a different response at the individual level. The same phenomenon with the same characteristics is also found in canine lymphocytes at the inter-individual level. Our in vitro radiobiological study confirms that the cytogenetic response obtained in blood from selected breeds of mammalian species can be utilized for applications in environmental studies. © 1994.

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