Detailed Classification of Chromosome Aberrations with Undifferentiated Staining to Account for Clastogenic Effects of Radionuclide and Complex Contaminations

Abstract

Examples of the use of different types of chromosome aberrations as diagnostic indicators to solve the practical problems of radioecology were considered. The classifications of the chromosome aberrations used to estimate the clastogenic effect of factors of radiation and chemical nature according to the results of cytogenetic studies with uniform staining of the chromosomes were analyzed. Some terminological inconsistency and ambiguity when designating various types and categories of chromosome aberrations, reflecting the clastogenic effect, was detected. It was demonstrated that this inconsistency can complicate the use of such cytogenetic indices in radioecological practice. According to the results of the Allium test using a digital imaging system, original microimages demonstrating the configurations of aberrant chromosomes used in classifications were obtained.