Cytogenetic Effects in the Bone Marrow of Animals Living in Conditions of Increased Natural Radiation Background

Abstract

We studied the cytogenetic effects in the bone marrow cells of root voles (Alexandromys (Microtus) oeconomus Pall.), which lived in areas contaminated with uranium and radium, as a result of the operation of radium mining (radium site) and the storage of its waste (uranium-radium site) (Komi Republic). The level and nature of mutational effects in voles from radioactively contaminated areas indicates the persistence of an increased frequency of chromosome aberrations and the appearance of individuals with an altered karyotype, which indicates genetic instability. When determining the nature of the dynamics of the mutation process in the studied populations, a high frequency of cells with micronuclei was noted in voles from the radium area, with the exception of the phase of population decline. In experiments with the use of provocative factors of chemical (urethane) and radiation (acute γ-irradiation) nature, an increase in the stability of bone marrow cells of animals living in conditions of increased background radiation has been shown.