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Cytogenetic effects of acetaldehyde in lymphocytes of Germans and Japanese: SCE, clastogenic activity, and cell cycle delay

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Summary

Acetaldehyde, the first metabolite of ethanol oxidation, caused a dose-dependent linear increase in the induction of sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes from both Germans and Japanese. Japanese, possessing only aldehyde dehydrogenase II isozyme (ALDH I deficient phenotype) and showing adverse effects after alcohol ingestion, did not differ in SCE rates from Germans and Japanese possessing isozymes I and II. At acetaldehyde concentrations above 360 μM, a significant chromosome breaking effect and a definite delay in cell cycle events, as evaluated by the BdUrd labeling technique, was registered in all individuals. Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate showed no protective effect against acetaldehyde-induced SCE formation in our system. A 24-h extension of the normal culture period revealed significantly higher rates of SCE at acetaldehyde doses above 360 μM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Human Genetics, University of Hamburg, Butenfeld 32, D-2000, Hamburg 54, Federal Republic of Germany

    J. U. Böhlke, S. Singh & H. W. Goedde

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  1. J. U. Böhlke
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  2. S. Singh
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  3. H. W. Goedde
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This work is part of the thesis of J. U. Böhlke for the Faculty of Medicine, Hamburg

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Böhlke, J.U., Singh, S. & Goedde, H.W. Cytogenetic effects of acetaldehyde in lymphocytes of Germans and Japanese: SCE, clastogenic activity, and cell cycle delay. Hum Genet 63, 285–289 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00284666

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00284666

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