Micronuclei formation in rainbow trout cells exposed to multiple stressors: Morpholine, heat shock, and ionizing radiation

Discharges from industrial cooling water systems can include low levels of morpholine (a chemical pH regulator and corrosion inhibitor), as well as transiently higher temperature effluent water which present a potential source of environmental impact to aquatic biota. The effects of environmental levels of morpholine or heat shock (HS) treatment alone and in combination with a challenge high-dose of 137Cs ionizing radiation were studied using the cytokinesis block micronucleus assay in a rainbow trout cell line (RTG-2). Morpholine treatment of 10 or 100 mg L− 1 alone produced no significant effects, and no interaction was observed in combination with 7.75 Gy radiation. A 9 °C magnitude HS treatment alone significantly increased micronuclei formation. A synergistic response was observed when 9 °C HS was combined with 7.75 Gy radiation, with 15% more cells containing 3 or more micronuclei than the sum of each individual stressor. A synergistic increase in the average number of micronuclei was observed when morpholine and a 9 °C HS were co-treated. These results indicate that morpholine at environmentally-relevant levels does not impact micronuclei formation or cell cycle progression however 9 °C HS may be of potential concern both alone and in combination with other stressor treatments.