Variation of micronucleated erythrocytes in peripheral blood of Sciurus aureogaster in relation to age: An increment of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes after the administration of colchicine

In some species, in which the human is included, the influence of age in th e variation in the number of micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE) is known. In the present work we show how the process of aging influences the number of spontaneous MNE in the gray squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster). Because of the difficulty of knowing the age of each animal, 69 animals were weighed at t heir arrival to the laboratory and at the start of sample taking, with the supposition that the heaviest animals were the oldest and those with the li ghtest weight were the youngest. The major number of MNE was found in the y ounger animals, whereas the adults displayed less MNE (P < 0.0001). A group of 11 animals were sampled every 15 days over a period of 6 months, and th e number of MNE were Found to decrease with an increment in the weight in c onformity with the time elapsed. These results showed that in the gray squi rrel, the number of spontaneous MNE in peripheral blood depend on age. An a dditional interesting datum about the increment of MNE after the administra tion of colchicine is shown. <(c)> 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.