Tail Moment versus Tail Length—Application of an In Vitro Version of the Comet Assay in Biomonitoring for Genotoxicity in Native Surface Waters Using Primary Hepatocytes and Gill Cells from Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Abstract

In order to investigate the suitability of an in vitro version of the comet assay with primary hepatocytes and gill cells from zebrafish (Danio rerio), cells were isolated by immersion in trypsin/EDTA solution after whole-body perfusion with phosphate-buffered saline. Within the scope of an 18-month biomonitoring study, primary cells were used to identify the genotoxic potential of native water samples from different sites along the major German rivers, Rhine and Elbe, and to evaluate the sensitivity and practicability of the chosen assay. Depending on the endpoint measured, considerable differences were detected with respect to the number of genotoxic surface water samples: Whereas no differences could be recorded for tail moment and relative DNA contents of head and tail, the number of positively tested native surface water samples significantly increased with tail length as endpoint.