Evaluation of genotoxic effects of ochratoxin A in the rat bone marrow cells in vivo

Abstract

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that contaminates food and feed and has been classified as a possible human carcinogen. Human exposure to OTA is worldwide. Here the genotoxic potential of OTA (4.375 μg/kg body weight/day for 15, 30, and 60 days)in the bone marrow cells of adult Wistar rats exposed to mycotoxin through food consumption was described. Level of DNA damage was measured by using standard alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). The tail intensity and tail moment of DNAcomets in bone marrow cells were significantly higher in the groups treated for 15 and 60 days than in controls (p<0.05). These parameters were also significantly higher in comparison to the group treated for 30 days (p<0.05). The highest tail intensity and tail moment was observed in animals treated for 15 days, and it differed significantly from animals treated for 60 days (p<0.05). Our results confirm the genotoxic potential of OTA and demonstrate its activity in low concentrations in rat bone marrow cells by comet assay.