Radiation-induced effects on bone marrow of bank voles inhabiting the Chornobyl exclusion zone

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effects of chronic exposure to low-dose radiation on bone marrow (BM) hematopoiesis of bank voles inhabiting the radioactively contaminated territory of the Chornobyl exclusion zone.

Materials and methods

Animals were collected within the highly radioactive area of the so-called Red Forest located close to the destroyed 4th reactor of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Radioecological investigations included evaluation of radiocontamination of soil samples by ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs, levels of incorporated radionuclides in animals’ bodies and organs, as well as the absorbed dose rates. The study of peripheral blood and BM parameters combined with cytogenetic analysis of BM micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) and standard metaphase test was carried out.

Results

The blood system of the exposed animals manifested significant changes in peripheral blood parameters (anemia and leucocyte formula left shift), ineffective differentiation, and maturation of BM cells, particularly relevant to the erythroid and granulocyte pools. Increased yields of BM MNPCEs and chromosomal aberrations, including dicentrics (dics) and Robertsonian fusion-like configurations (Rbts), were revealed.

Conclusions

Observed disturbances in the BM and peripheral blood suggest functional instability and inefficient compensatory and recovery reactions of the blood system of the bank voles from the contaminated areas of the Chornobyl exclusion zone. We assume that they are the consequences both of direct radiation exposure and hereditary pathological changes that have formed in a number of generations inhabiting radioactively contaminated areas.

Keywords:

• Low-dose radiation exposure
• Chornobyl exclusion zone
• bank vole
• bone marrow hematopoiesis
• cytogenetic anomalies

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Sergey Kireev, Chief of SSE ‘Ecocentre’ (Chornobyl) and Denis Vishnevskyi, Head of the Department of Flora and Fauna Ecology at the Chornobyl Radiation-Ecological Biosphere Reserve, for the support in organization and studies in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alla Lypska

Alla Lypska, D.Sc, is Head of the Department of Radiobiology and Radioecology at the Institute for Nuclear Physics of NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine). Her research scope includes radiobiological effects and dose formation from single and chronic intake of different radionuclides; radiobiological effects in murine rodents from the natural populations of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.

Natalia Riabchenko

Natalia Riabchenko, PhD, is Senior Scientific Researcher at the Department of Radiobiology and Radioecology, Institute for Nuclear Physics of NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine). Primary scientific interest are focused on human and animal radiation cytogenetics, radiation oncology.

Natalia Rodionova

Natalia Rodionova, MD, PhD, is Senior Scientific Researcher at the Department of Radiobiology and Radioecology, Institute for Nuclear Physics of NAS of Ukraine. She is a hematologist with many years of experience in studying the blood system of model rodents, including those from the Chornobyl exclusion zone.

Olena Burdo

Olena Burdo, PhD, is Scientific Researcher at the Department of Radiobiology and Radioecology, Institute for Nuclear Physics of NAS of Ukraine. She actively involved in the radiobiological and radioecological research of small rodents from the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.