Ultraviolet-A Light Induces Micronucleated Erythrocytes in Newborn Rats

Abstract

Background: Ultraviolet-A (UV-A) light induce DNA damage by creating pyrimidine dimers, or indirectly affects DNA by the formation of reactive oxygen species. The objective was to determine DNA damage by micronucleus test in neonatal rats exposed to UV-A light. Methods: Rat neonates were exposed to light from a LED lamp (control group), to UV-C light 254 nm (control group to desquamation skin) or UV-A light 365 nm and in one group the dams were supplemented with folic acid (FA), to determine micro nucleated erythrocytes (MNE) and micro nucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) in peripheral blood of offspring. Results: All the rat neonates exposed to UV-C lamp showed desquamation skin, while for UV-A lamp no desquamation was observed, and there was MNE differences in all sampling times (P<0.02) and for MNPCE in 9 min group (P=0.001). No differences between the groups with and without FA were observed. Conclusion: Increased MNE frequencies without apparent damage to the skin could be induced with UV-A light exposure. Under these conditions, FA no protected against UV-A light exposure. This study shows a manner to quantify the genotoxic effects of UV-A light in peripheral blood erythrocytes of rat neonates.