DNA damage in a liver tissue of metal exposed Clethrionomys glareolus

It is widely known that some toxic agents may act on DNA strand resulting in its damages. One of the possible impairments is formation of abasic sites in DNA. The aim of this study was to indicate a presence of these DNA sites in the liver tissue of bank voles inhabiting the vicinity of zinc/lead smelters. Samples that were used originated from animals collected from unpolluted (Niepołomice, Teleśnica Oszwarowa, Mikołajki) and polluted (Miasteczko Śląskie, Katowice, Olkusz) populations. They significantly differed in terms of tissue lead concentrations in the kidney and liver. The means of detected AP sites per 105 bp ranged between 3.39 (Teleśnica Oszwarowa) to 5.13 (Miasteczko Śląskie). Statistical analysis (ANOVA) showed no difference in terms of number of the AP sites between single populations. However, t-test showed significant difference between the unpolluted and polluted populations. Factorial ANOVA indicated that sex is not a factor influencing the number of AP sites. The analyses revealed statistically significant relationships between the number of AP sites and Cu concentrations in the liver, and also Pb and Cd concentrations in the kidney.