ASSESSMENT OF DNA DAMAGE IN BLOOD CELLS OF Sparus aurata L. EXPOSED TO BENZO[A]PYRENE USING THREE DISTINCT GENOTOXICITY ASSAYS

We analysed the relationships between different categories of genotoxicity biomarkers using, Sparus aurata as model organism and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) as a well-described genotoxicant agent. DNA damage was assessed by means of agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), micronuclei (MN) and flow cytometry (FC) assays. MN assay was carried out in mature erythrocytes, while the other assays were performed with all blood cell types. Both the AGE and MN assays detected significant DNA damaging effects of B[a]P, whereas almost no DNA damage was observed by FC assay. Yet, AGE and MN assays differed in the patterns of response observed. The cycles of DNA damage and repair detected in the AGE assay were not apparent in MN assay, where the genotoxic insult was consistently detected overtime.