Effect of Environmental Contamination on Cell Division of Chick Embryos

Abstract

This study aimed to use chick embryos as a biological indicator for assessing the genotoxic activity of environmental pollutants and used it as a living test system or a useful tool when a study on the target species is difficult or impracticable. Fertilized eggs were collected from AL-Twietha(contains the Iraqi nuclear reactor)represents a control  group . Cytogenetic analysis for chick embryos have been done by studying Blast index (BI), and Mitotic index (MI), Replicative index (RI) and Sister Chromated Exchange (SCE) for embryonic cell in 2-7 days age. Results were compared with those that were held to chick embryos for eggs collected from AL-Kadhimiya and AL-Baya as a control group. Result showed significant increase in MI and RI in embryonic cells for chicks collected from AL-Twietha with age were as embryonic cells for chicks collected from AL-Kadhimiya and AL-Baya that decreased as age increase. SCE values showed a significant increase for eggs collected from AL- Tuwaitha area. These results show a defect in the genetic material and inability of the cell to repair the DNA damage, which resulted in a rise in SCE value. From this study it can be conclude that the possibility of using chick embryos as a biological indicator to detect the effect of pollutants and adoption as an alternative method for in vitro blood cultures for being easy ,accurate, and economic method.