Genome Instability of Hippocampal and Bone Marrow Cells in Male Mice after the Action of Immobilization and Pheromonal Stressor

Abstract

Different stressors, affecting the cells of target organs, can lead to genomic instability and even disintegration, which can play a role in the formation of post-stress pathologies. We studied the effect of psycho-emotional stressors (immobilization and mouse stress pheromone – 2,5-dimethylpyrazine) on the DNA integrity of hippocampal and bone marrow cell in male mice of CD1, CBA and C3H strains. Cytogenetic and immunocytochemical methods (alkaline comet assay, ana-telophase analysis of mitotic disturbances and analysis of γH2AX foci) were used. It is shown that the classic mouse stressor (immobilization or restraint), similar as 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, damages the genome of the cells of both organs studied. The destabilization of the cell genome of various organs is considered as an essential stage in the development of a stress response, which is an attempt of the organism to adapt to extreme environmental influences.