INFLUENCE OF SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ON CHROMOSOME-ABERRATIONS INDUCED BY BLEOMYCIN ALONE OR IN COMBINATION OF REDUCED GLUTATHIONE

In this study, an attempt has been made to see the influence of supero xide dismutase (SOD) on the DNA damaging effect of bleomycin (BLM) alo ne or in combination of reduced glutathione (GSH), which potentiates B LM action by reducing oxidized BLM. Present results in human periphera l lymphocytes demonstrate that SOD reduces the clastogenic action of B LM alone or in combination with GSH, indicating involvement of superox ide radicals in induction of chromosome aberrations. SOD treatment bef ore GSH addition to BLM-treated cells shows better protective effect a nd this could be due to scavenging of superoxide radicals by SOD which would otherwise involve in conversion of Fe(III) to Fe(II) with incre ased GSH or cysteine level inside the cells.