GENOTOXIC EFFECTS OF MITOMYCIN-C AND MICROWAVE-RADIATION ON BOVINE LYMPHOCYTES

The aim of this work was to ascertain whether microwave radiation (fre quency 9 GHz; specific absorption rate 70 mW/gr, exposure duration 10 min) may produce genotoxic effects, assessed by cytokinesis-block micr onucleus (MN) assay, in bovine (Bos taurus L.) peripheral blood lympho cyte cultures. As positive control for the MN induction, mitomycin-C ( MMC) was used: it is known that this alkylating agent has a potent gen otoxic (radiomimetic) action. To evaluate possible cooperative effects , some cultures from microwave-exposed samples were treated with MMC. The results obtained indicate that the optimal dose of MMC to induce M N frequency increase in this species is 0.044 mu g/ml and that microwa ve radiation induces a statistically significant increase of MN freque ncy both with and without MMC.