The Comet assay for the evaluation of the genetic hazard of pollutants in cetaceans: Preliminary results on the genotoxic effects of methyl-mercury on the bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) lymphocytes in vitro

In this study the single cell microgel electrophoresis (Comet assay) was used to evaluate the genetic effects of methyl-mercury in dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) lymphocytes in the dose range 1–8 μg ml−1. The results of in vitro exposure showed that methyl-Hg induces DNA single-strand breaks and cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Dolphin lymphocytes have greater resistance to the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of methyl-Hg than human and rat cells. The ecological significance of these results are discussed.