Anaphase Bridge Formation Research Articles

Pathology of soft‐tissue tumors: Daily diagnosis, molecular cytogenetics and experimental approach

This article reviews problems in diagnostic pathology and molecular cytogenetics of soft-tissue tumors. Also discussed are the origin of soft-tissue sarcomas and the molecular basis of effective target therapy for sarcomas. Molecular cytogenetic analysis of tumor-specific chromosomal translocations and associated fusion gene transcripts offers a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of soft-tissue tumors, but recent studies have indicated a growing number of fusion gene variations in each tumor type. In pleomorphic sarcoma/malignant fibrous histiocytoma, the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism may result in formation of anaphase bridges and marked nuclear pleomorphism. The histogenesis of soft-tissue sarcomas has been a matter of controversy. In the present experimental model using s.c. injection of 3-methylcholanthrene in C57BL/6 mice pretreated with bone marrow-transplantation from green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive green mice, the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells as well as the tissue-resident mesenchymal cells in the peripheral soft tissues are possible originators of sarcomagenesis. Little is known about a molecular basis of target therapy for sarcomas. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) enhances the invasive activity of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) cells through platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) phosphorylation, whereas imatinib mesylate inhibited such activity, suggesting that targeting PDGFR-beta may result in the establishment of novel treatment for MPNST. In addition, emmprin is a transmembrane glycoprotein on tumor cells that stimulates peritumoral fibroblasts to produce matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), playing a crucial role in tumor progression, invasion and metastasis. The MMP upregulation mechanism mediated by tumor-associated emmprin may be a potentially useful target in anti-tumor invasion therapy for sarcomas.

Topoisomerase IIIα is required for normal proliferation and telomere stability in alternative lengthening of telomeres

Topoisomerase (Topo) IIIalpha associates with BLM helicase, which is proposed to be important in the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway that allows telomere recombination in the absence of telomerase. Here, we show that human Topo IIIalpha colocalizes with telomeric proteins at ALT-associated promyelocytic bodies from ALT cells. In these cells, Topo IIIalpha immunoprecipitated with telomere binding protein (TRF) 2 and BLM and was shown to be associated with telomeric DNA by chromatin immunoprecipitation, suggesting that these proteins form a complex at telomere sequences. Topo IIIalpha depletion by small interfering RNA reduced ALT cell survival, but did not affect telomerase-positive cell lines. Moreover, repression of Topo IIIalpha expression in ALT cells reduced the levels of TRF2 and BLM proteins, provoked a strong increase in the formation of anaphase bridges, induced the degradation of the G-overhang signal, and resulted in the appearance of DNA damage at telomeres. In contrast, telomere maintenance and TRF2 levels were unaffected in telomerase-positive cells. We conclude that Topo IIIalpha is an important telomere-associated factor, essential for telomere maintenance and chromosome stability in ALT cells, and speculate on its potential mechanistic function.

Resolution of Sister Centromeres Requires RanBP2-Mediated SUMOylation of Topoisomerase IIα

RanBP2 is a nucleoporin with SUMO E3 ligase activity that functions in both nucleocytoplasmic transport and mitosis. However, the biological relevance of RanBP2 and the in vivo targets of its E3 ligase activity are unknown. Here we show that animals with low amounts of RanBP2 develop severe aneuploidy in the absence of overt transport defects. The main chromosome segregation defect in cells from these mice is anaphase-bridge formation. Topoisomerase IIalpha (Topo IIalpha), which decatenates sister centromeres prior to anaphase onset to prevent bridges, fails to accumulate at inner centromeres when RanBP2 levels are low. We find that RanBP2 sumoylates Topo IIalpha in mitosis and that this modification is required for its proper localization to inner centromeres. Furthermore, mice with low amounts of RanBP2 are highly sensitive to tumor formation. Together, these data identify RanBP2 as a chromosomal instability gene that regulates Topo IIalpha by sumoylation and suppresses tumorigenesis.

A New Steroid Derivative Stabilizes G-Quadruplexes and Induces Telomere Uncapping in Human Tumor Cells

Human telomeric DNA consists of tandem repeats of the sequence d(TTAGGG) with a 3' single-stranded extension (the G-overhang). The stabilization of G-quadruplexes in the human telomeric sequence by small-molecule ligands inhibits the activity of telomerase and results in telomere uncapping, leading to senescence or apoptosis of tumor cells. Therefore, the search for new and selective G-quadruplex ligands is of considerable interest because a selective ligand might provide a telomere-targeted therapeutic approach to treatment of cancer. We have screened a bank of derivatives from natural and synthetic origin using a temperature fluorescence assay and have identified two related compounds that induce G-quadruplex stabilization: malouetine and steroid FG. These steroid derivatives have nonplanar and nonaromatic structures, different from currently known G-quadruplex ligands. Malouetine is a natural product isolated from the leaves of Malouetia bequaaertiana E. Woodson and is known for its curarizing and DNA-binding properties. Steroid FG, a funtumine derivative substituted with a guanylhydrazone moiety, interacted selectively with the telomeric G-quadruplex in vitro. This derivative induced senescence and telomere shortening of HT1080 tumor cells at submicromolar concentrations, corresponding to the phenotypic inactivation of telomerase activity. In addition, steroid FG induced a rapid degradation of the telomeric G-overhang and the formation of anaphase bridges, characteristics of telomere uncapping. Finally, the expression of protection of telomere 1 (POT1) induced resistance to the growth effect of steroid FG. These results indicate that these steroid ligands represent a new class of telomere-targeted agents with potential as antitumor drugs.

RanBP2/Nup358 is required for Topoisomerase II/alpha‐mediated DNA decatenation, proper chromosome segregation and tumor suppression

RanBP2/Nup358 is a component of the nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery that has been implicated in mitotic progression. To determine the physiological importance of RanBP2 and its role in mitosis we have generated a series of mice with graded reduction of RanBP2 levels. Mice with very low amounts of RanBP2 are viable and overtly normal, but develop severe aneuploidy. Their major mitotic abnormality is the formation of anaphase bridges, a defect linked to improper Topoisomerase II/alpha-mediated decatenation of sister chromatids. We find that RanBP2 forms a complex with Topoisomerase II/alpha in mitosis and regulates its decatenation activity and localization to chromosomes. Furthermore, we find that RanBP2 deficient mice are prone to spontaneous and carcinogen-induced tumors. Together, these data identify RanBP2 as a key regulator of Topoisomerase II/alpha-mediated DNA decatenation and a suppressor of tumorigenesis.

DNA repair pathways involved in anaphase bridge formation

Cancer cells frequently exhibit gross chromosomal alterations such as translocations, deletions, or gene amplifications an important source of chromosomal instability in malignant cells. One of the better-documented examples is the formation of anaphase bridges-chromosomes pulled in opposite directions by the spindle apparatus. Anaphase bridges are associated with DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). While the majority of DSBs are repaired correctly, to restore the original chromosome structure, incorrect fusion events also occur leading to bridging. To identify the cellular repair pathways used to form these aberrant structures, we tested a requirement for either of the two major DSB repair pathways in mammalian cells: homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Our observations show that neither pathway is essential, but NHEJ helps prevent bridges. When NHEJ is compromised, the cell appears to use HR to repair the break, resulting in increased anaphase bridge formation. Moreover, intrinsic NHEJ activity of different cell lines appears to have a positive trend with induction of bridges from DNA damage.

Structural Basis for Binding of Porphyrin to Human Telomeres,

Maintenance of telomere integrity is a hallmark of human cancer, and the single-stranded 3' ends of telomeric DNA are targets for small-molecule anticancer therapies. We report here the crystal structure of a bimolecular human telomeric quadruplex, of the sequence d(TAGGGTTAGGG), in a complex with the quadruplex-binding ligand 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin (TMPyP4) to a resolution of 2.09 A. The DNA quadruplex topology is parallel-stranded with external double-chain-reversal propeller loops, consistent with previous structural determinations. The porphyrin molecules bind by stacking onto the TTA nucleotides, either as part of the external loop structure or at the 5' region of the stacked quadruplex. This involves stacked on hydrogen-bonded base pairs, formed from those nucleotides not involved in the formation of G-tetrads, and there are thus no direct ligand interactions with G-tetrads. This is in accord with the relative nonselectivity by TMPyP4 for quadruplex DNAs compared to duplex DNA. Porphyrin binding is achieved by remodeling of loops compared to the ligand-free structures. Implications for the design of quadruplex-binding ligands are discussed, together with a model for the formation of anaphase bridges, which are observed following cellular treatment with TMPyP4.

G-Quadruplex stabilization by telomestatin induces TRF2 protein dissociation from telomeres and anaphase bridge formation accompanied by loss of the 3′ telomeric overhang in cancer cells

Inhibition of telomerase activity by telomerase inhibitors induces a gradual loss of telomeres, and this in turn causes cancer cells to enter to a crisis stage. Here, we report the telomerase inhibitor telomestatin, which is known to stabilize G-quadruplex structures at 3' single-stranded telomeric overhangs (G-tails), rapidly dissociates TRF2 from telomeres in cancer cells within a week, when given at a concentration that does not cause normal cells to die. The G-tails were dramatically reduced upon short-term treatment with the drug in cancer cell lines, but not in normal fibroblasts and epithelial cells. In addition, telomestatin also induced anaphase bridge formation in cancer cell lines. These effects of telomestatin were similar to those of dominant negative TRF2, which also causes a prompt loss of the telomeric G-tails and induces an anaphase bridge. These results indicate that telomestatin exerts its anticancer effect not only through inhibiting telomere elongation, but also by rapidly disrupting the capping function at the very ends of telomeres. Unlike conventional telomerase inhibitors that require long-term treatments, the G-quadruplex stabilizer telomestatin induced prompt cell death, and it was selectively effective in cancer cells. This study also identifies the TRF2 protein as a therapeutic target for treating many types of cancer which have the TRF2 protein at caps of the telomere DNA of each chromosome.

Disruption of BRCA1 function results in telomere lengthening and increased anaphase bridge formation in immortalized cell lines

BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor that functions in controlling cell growth and maintaining genomic stability. BRCA1 has also been implicated in telomere maintenance through its ability to regulate the transcription of hTERT, the catalytic subunit of telomerase, resulting in telomere shortening, and to colocalize with the telomere-binding protein TRF1. The high incidence of nonreciprocal translocations in tumors arising from BRCA1 mutation carriers and Brca1-null mice also raises the possibility that BRCA1 plays a role in telomere protection. To date, however, the consequences for telomere status of disrupting BRCA1 have not been reported. To examine the role of BRCA1 in telomere regulation, we have expressed a dominant-negative mutant of BRCA1 (trBRCA1), known to disrupt multiple functions of BRCA1, in telomerase-positive mammary epithelial cells (SVCT) and telomerase-negative ALT cells (GM847). In SVCT cells, expression of trBRCA1 resulted in an increased incidence of anaphase bridges and in an increase in telomere length, but no change in telomerase activity. In GM847 cells, trBRCA1 also increased anaphase bridge formation but did not induce any change in telomere length. BRCA1 colocalized with TRF2 in telomerase-positive cells and with a small subset of ALT-associated PML bodies (APBs) in ALT cells. Together, these results raise the possibility that BRCA1 could play a role in telomere protection and suggest a potential mechanism for one of the phenotypes of BRCA1-deficient cells.

Binding of G-Quadruplex-interactive Agents to Distinct G-Quadruplexes Induces Different Biological Effects in MiaPaCa Cells

Our previous studies have demonstrated the preference of telomestatin for intramolecular, rather than the intermolecular, G-quadruplex structures, while TMPyP4 has selectivity for intermolecular over intramolecular G-quadruplex structures. However, it was not clear whether the difference in the selectivity between two different G-quadruplex-interactive agents could determine the corresponding biological effects in cultured human tumor cells. Here we evaluated the biological effects of both TMPyP4 and telomestatin in the human pancreatic carcinoma cell line (MiaPaCa) using subtoxic and cytotoxic concentrations. The cytotoxicity of these agents against MiaPaCa cells is quite different, and the IC 50 of telomestatin (0.5 μM) is about 100 times less than that of TMPyP4 (50 μM). At IC 50 concentrations, TMPyP4 induced anaphase bridge formation in MiaPaCa cells, while telomestatin failed to induce anaphase bridge formation. At subtoxic concentrations, TMPyP4 induced MiaPaCa cell growth arrest, senescence, apoptosis, and telomere length shortening within 5 weeks, while similar biological effects were evident after 12 weeks following treatment with telomestatin. Our data suggest that binding of G-quadruplex-interactive agents to distinct G-quadruplexes could induce different biological effects in human cancer cells.

A patient with mosaic partial trisomy 18 resulting from dicentric chromosome breakage

We present a patient with minor dysmorphic features and a mosaic karyotype with two different abnormal cell lines, both involving abnormalities of chromosome 18. Twenty percent of cells studied (4/20) had 46 chromosomes with a large derivative pseudoisodicentric chromosome 18. This chromosome was deleted for 18pter and duplicated for part of proximal 18p (18p11.2 based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies and all of 18q. The two copies of portions of chromosome 18 were fused in an inverted fashion (duplicated for 18qter->18p11.3). The smaller der(18) was present in 80% of cells studied (16/20) and had a normal q-arm, while the p-arm was missing the subtelomere region but had duplication of a part of 18p. FISH studies showed that the larger derivative 18 contained the 18q subtelomere at each end, but the 18p subtelomere was absent, consistent with fusion of two regions within 18p resulting in deletion of the subtelomeric regions. The smaller der(18) was also missing the 18p subtelomere (with normal 18q as expected). Further testing with BAC clones mapping within 18p11.2 showed that these sequences were duplicated and inverted in both of the der(18)s. These findings lead us to hypothesize that the smaller der(18) was derived from the larger, dicentric 18 following anaphase bridge formation, with breakage distal to the duplicated segment.

Apoptosis related to telomere instability and cell cycle alterations in human glioma cells treated by new highly selective G-quadruplex ligands

Telomerase represents a relevant target for cancer therapy. Molecules able to stabilize the G-quadruplex (G4), a structure adopted by the 3'-overhang of telomeres, are thought to inhibit telomerase by blocking its access to telomeres. We investigated the cellular effects of four new 2,6-pyridine-dicarboxamide derivatives displaying strong selectivity for G4 structures and strong inhibition of telomerase in in vitro assays. These compounds inhibited cell proliferation at very low concentrations and then induced a massive apoptosis within a few days in a dose-dependent manner in cultures of three telomerase-positive glioma cell lines, T98G, CB193 and U118-MG. They had also antiproliferative effects in SAOS-2, a cell line in which telomere maintenance involves an alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. We show that apoptosis was preceded by multiple alterations of the cell cycle: activation of S-phase checkpoints, dramatic increase of metaphase duration and cytokinesis defects. These effects were not associated with telomere shortening, but they were directly related to telomere instability involving telomere end fusion and anaphase bridge formation. Pyridine-based G-quadruplex ligands are therefore promising agents for the treatment of various tumors including malignant gliomas.

When, where and how the bridge breaks: anaphase bridge breakage plays a crucial role in gene amplification and HSR generation

Amplified genes are frequently localized on extrachromosomal double minutes (DMs) or in chromosomal homogenously staining regions (HSRs). We previously showed that a plasmid bearing a mammalian replication initiation region could efficiently generate DMs and HSRs after transfection into human tumor cell lines. The Breakage-Fusion-Bridge (BFB) cycle model, a classical model that explains how HSRs form, could also be used to explain how the transfected plasmids generate HSRs. The BFB cycle model involves anaphase bridge formation due to the presence of dicentric chromosomes, followed by the breakage of the bridge. In this study, we used our plasmid-based model system to analyze how anaphase bridges break during mitosis. Dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses revealed that anaphase bridges were most frequently severed in their middle irrespective of their lengths, which suggests that a structurally fragile site exists in the middle of the anaphase bridge. Breakage of the chromosomal bridges occurred prior to nuclear membrane reformation and the completion of cytokinesis, which indicates that mechanical tension rather than cytokinesis is primarily responsible for severing anaphase bridges. Time-lapse observation of living cells revealed that the bridges rapidly shrink after being severed. If HSR length was extended too far, the bridge could no longer be resolved and became tangled depending on the tension. The unbroken bridge appeared to inhibit the completion of cytokinesis. These observations strongly suggest that anaphase bridges are highly elastic and that the length of the spindle axis determines the maximal HSR length.

Cigarette smoke induces anaphase bridges and genomic imbalances in normal cells

Exposure to cigarette smoke has long been linked to carcinogenesis, but the emphasis has been placed on mutational changes in the DNA sequence caused by the carcinogens in smoke. Here, we report an additional role for cigarette smoke exposure in contributing to chromosomal aberrations in cells. We have found that cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) induces anaphase bridges in cultured human cells, which in a short time lead to genomic imbalances. The frequency of the induced bridges within the entire population decreases with time, and this decrease is not dependent upon the p53-mediated apoptotic pathway. Additionally, we show that CSC induces DNA double stranded breaks (DSBs) in cultured cells and purified DNA. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, 2′ deoxyguanosine 5′-monophosphate (dGMP) prevents CSC-induced DSBs, anaphase bridge formation and genomic imbalances. Therefore, we propose that CSC induces bridges and genomic imbalances via DNA DSBs. Furthermore, since the amount of CSC added to the cultures was substantially less than that extracted from a single cigarette, our results show that even low levels of cigarette smoke can cause irreversible changes in the chromosomal constitution of cultured cells.

Telomere erosion and chromosomal instability in cells expressing the HPV oncogene 16E6.

Progression to advanced-stage cervical carcinomas is characterized by a recurrent pattern of chromosomal rearrangements. Structural chromosome rearrangements are generated through the fusion of broken chromosome ends. These chromosome breaks may be induced by mutagenic agents such as ionizing radiation, or chromosome ends may be exposed through extensive telomere shortening. The human papilloma virus oncogene 16E6 induces telomerase activity in human keratinocytes, a model system for cervical tumor formation. The present study explores the relationship between 16E6 expression, telomerase activity, and chromosomal instability. We show that the frequency of anaphase bridges is dependent on the level of telomerase activity in 16E6/E7-expressing clones, and is the result of telomere shortening. High frequencies of anaphase bridges, associated with low telomerase activity, correlate with increased chromosome instability. Anaphase bridge formation is also associated with the presence of micronuclei, which are shown to contain unstable chromosomes frequently involved in rearrangements. As anaphase bridges are observed in both high and low telomerase 16E6/E7 clones, but not in hTERT-expressing control clones, expression of 16E6 in these immortalized clones is not sufficient to stabilize shortened telomeres completely. We suggest a model in which HPV-induced tumorigenesis may be dependent on persistent bridge-breakage-fusion cycles that allow for continued genomic rearrangements.

Editorial The genetics and pathology of mouse mammary cancer

TEN1 is a component of the mammalian CTC1-STN1-TEN1 complex. CTC1 and/or STN1 functions in telomere duplex replication, C-strand fill-in, and genome-wide restart of replication following fork stalling. Here we examine the role of human TEN1 and ask whether it also functions as a specialized replication factor. TEN1 depletion causes an increase in multitelomere fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) signals similar to that observed after CTC1 or STN1 depletion. However, TEN1 depletion also results in increased telomere loss. This loss is not accompanied by increased telomere deprotection, recombination, or T-circle release. Thus, it appears that both the multiple telomere signals and telomere loss stem from problems in telomere duplex replication. TEN1 depletion can also affect telomere length, but whether telomeres lengthen or shorten is cell line-dependent. Like CTC1 and STN1, TEN1 is needed for G-overhang processing. Depletion of TEN1 does not effect overhang elongation in mid-S phase, but it delays overhang shortening in late S/G2. These results indicate a role for TEN1 in C-strand fill-in but do not support a direct role in telomerase regulation. Finally, TEN1 depletion causes a decrease in genome-wide replication restart following fork stalling similar to that observed after STN1 depletion. However, anaphase bridge formation is more severe than with CTC1 or STN1 depletion. Our findings indicate that TEN1 likely functions in conjunction with CTC1 and STN1 at the telomere and elsewhere in the genome. They also raise the possibility that TEN1 has additional roles and indicate that TEN1/CTC1-STN1-TEN1 helps solve a wide range of challenges to the replication machinery.Background: Although CTC1-STN1-TEN1 (CST) is considered a specialized replication factor, TEN1 is largely uncharacterized.Results: Like CTC1 and STN1, TEN1 is needed for telomere replication and genome-wide replication rescue; however, TEN1 depletion causes more severe phenotypes.Conclusion: TEN1 likely functions with CTC1 and STN1 in most contexts, but TEN1 may have additional roles.Significance: TEN1/CST help solve a diverse array of replication problems.

Chromosomal breakage-fusion-bridge events cause genetic intratumor heterogeneity.

It has long been known that rearrangements of chromosomes through breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) cycles may cause variability of phenotypic and genetic traits within a cell population. Because intercellular heterogeneity is often found in neoplastic tissues, we investigated the occurrence of BFB events in human solid tumors. Evidence of frequent BFB events was found in malignancies that showed unspecific chromosome aberrations, including ring chromosomes, dicentric chromosomes, and telomeric associations, as well as extensive intratumor heterogeneity in the pattern of structural changes but not in tumors with tumor-specific aberrations and low variability. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that chromosomes participating in anaphase bridge formation were involved in a significantly higher number of structural aberrations than other chromosomes. Tumors with BFB events showed a decreased elimination rate of unstable chromosome aberrations after irradiation compared with normal cells and other tumor cells. This result suggests that a combination of mitotically unstable chromosomes and an elevated tolerance to chromosomal damage leads to constant genomic reorganization in many malignancies, thereby providing a flexible genetic system for clonal evolution and progression.

Hamster chromosomes containing amplified human alpha-satellite DNA show delayed sister chromatid separation in the absence of de novo kinetochore formation.

The centromeres of human chromosomes contain large amounts of the tandemly repeated alpha-satellite DNA family. Previous studies have shown that integration of alpha-satellite DNA into ectopic locations in mammalian chromosomes can result in the de novo formation of several features of centromeric function. Here we further examine the possible centromeric properties of alpha-satellite DNA by introducing it into hamster chromosomes. A large amplified region of ectopic alpha-satellite DNA was shown to direct binding of anticentromere antibodies (ACAs) and centromere protein B (CENP-B). The chromosome containing these ectopic arrays showed a high frequency of formation of anaphase bridges. Owing to the favourable morphology of these chromosomes, we were able to determine that this bridging was due to delayed sister chromatid disjunction at the location of the ectopic alpha-satellite, and not due to de novo formation of a fully functional kinetochore. A separate hamster cell line containing large tandemly repeated amplicons including the DHFR gene also displayed similar behaviour during anaphase. These results may support a role for alpha-satellite DNA in sister chromatid cohesion at centromeres. However, other repetitive DNA in favourable configurations appears to be capable of mimicking this behaviour during anaphase.

Replication of yeast DNA and novel chromosome formation in mouse cells.

To determine whether yeast DNA can replicate or segregate in mammalian cells, we have transferred genomic DNA from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae into mouse cells. Most of the lines contained stably integrated yeast DNA. However, in two of the lines, the yeast DNA was maintained as numerous small extrachromosomal elements which were still present after 26 cell divisions in selection but which were lost rapidly out of selection. This indicates that, although yeast DNA can replicate in mouse cells, the yeast centromere does not function to give segregation. In one cell line we observed a large novel chromosome consisting almost entirely of yeast DNA. This chromosome segregates well and contains mouse centromeric minor satellite DNA and variable amounts of major satellite DNA which probably comprise the functional centromere. The yeast DNA in the novel chromosome has a compacted chromatin structure which may be responsible for the efficient formation of anaphase bridges. Furthermore, yeast DNA integrated into mouse chromosomes forms constrictions at the point of integration. These features have previously been presumed to be hallmarks of centromeric function in transfection assays aimed at identifying putative centromeric DNA. Hence our results suggest caution be exercised in the interpretation of such assays.

Effect of magnetic resonance exposure combined with gadopentetate dimeglumine on chromosomes in animal specimens

We tested for the presence of a form of unstable chromosomal damage--anaphase bridges--that might result from the combined exposure to gadopentetate dimeglumine and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in rats. Fifty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats, along with appropriate controls, were exposed either to MR imaging alone, gadopentetate dimeglumine alone, or a combination of the two. After exposure, partial hepatectomies were performed to induce a vigorous mitotic response in the regenerating liver stump. Twenty-eight to 30 hr after partial hepatectomy, tissue specimens from regenerating liver were removed and analyzed microscopically for the presence of anaphase bridges. No anaphase bridges were detected in any of the animals, including those exposed to gadopentetate dimeglumine and MR imaging. Using anaphase bridge formation as an indicator, exposure to MR imaging alone, gadopentetate dimeglumine alone, or a combination of the two under the conditions used in this experiment did not cause detectable unstable chromosomal damage.