Cytogenetic aberrations in the bone marrow of red-backed voles (Clethrionomys rutilus Pallas) living in an area of high cadmium content (Altai Republic)

It has studied a population of red-blacked vole (Clethrionomys rutilus) caught in thevicinity of the settlement of Chagan-Uzun, Altai Republic, which located in a geochemicalarea of high cadmium content in the environment. It has been determined significantlyhigh frequency of chromosomal aberrated cells in the bone marrow of the voles.About 87,8% of the voles caught nearby Chagan-Uzun have significantly high frequencyof cells with chromatid acentric fragments, chromosomal aberrations as well as hyperandpolyploidy cells. Dicentric and ring chromosomes predominated among the chromosomeaberrations. It was found that the frequency of chromosomal aberrant cells waspositively correlated with the age of the animals. The correlation has not determined inthe control vole population of Turochak. The highest frequency of chromosomal aberrationswas found in a group Chagan-Uzun voles with cadmium blood concentration above1 mkg/l. The high blood cadmium content may be a principal cause of cytogenetical aberrationsin the animal. It has been found good positive correlations between the cadmiumblood content and the frequency of some types of cytogenetic aberrations in themarrow cells of the animals. Integral estimation of cytogenetical homeostasis accordingto the Russian Ecological Politics Center in the Chagan-Uzun vole population wasshown that about 26,5% of the population had critical state of cytogenetical apparatus.Thus, above 25% of the vole Chagan-Uzun population have chromosomal aberrations,which can have negative effects on generative cells and reproduction.

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