Micronucleus Frequencies in Bulgarian Control Populations
Alexander K. Vaglenov and Atanas G. Karadjov
National Centre of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Corresponding author: Associate Prof. Dr. A. K. Vaglenov, M.D., Ph.
D.National Center of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection,1756 Sofia, Boul. “Kliment Ohridski” 132, Bulgaria.
Present address:Department de Genètica i de Microbiologia
Edifici C
08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
Tel.: (+3) 581-2724
FAX: (+3) 581-2387
CEJOEM 1998, 3:187-194
Key words: Micronuclei, human lymphocytes, cytokinesis-block assay, age, sex,
smoking habits, biological dosimetry, Bulgarian population
Abstract: Spontaneous micronucleus frequency (MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes
of 194 persons belonging to both sexes is estimated using the cytokinesis-block
micronucleus method (CBMN). 89 women have been examined – 47 of them being
non-smokers and 42 of them smoking more than 15 cigarettes a day. The 105
men under study are also divided into 2 groups – 50 non-smokers and 55
smokers. Linear dependencies showing that an increase in age leads to an
increase in MN frequency are presented as follows:
1. Y = 0.222X + 10.250 – for male non-smokers
2. Y = 0.419X + 7.584 – for female non-smokers
3. Y = 0.330X + 9.280 – for male smokers
4. Y = 0.697X + 1.799 – for female smokers,
where (Y) is MN frequency of 1000 binuclear lymphocytes and (X) is
the age in years. Thus, for the females in both cases (non-smokers and
smokers) a higher increase of micronuclei is observed with the increase
of age. The results obtained represent a basis for carrying out cytogenetic
monitoring of population groups, with regard to the occupation of persons
exposed to the action of different types of ionizing irradiation.