Assessment of Genotoxic Potential in Rats Collected from Bathinda District of South-west Punjab

The wide spread use of the chemicals in agriculture has caused environmental pollution and potential health hazards. The present study was carried out to evaluate the genotoxicity in rats inhabiting Bathinda. Rats were brought to laboratory and separated according to species. The animals were dissected and the liver was processed for microsomal degranulation. The frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes in femoral bone marrow preparations was also evaluated. Increase in microsomal degranulation was observed among Bathinda rats of all the species as compared to control rats. Maximum microsomal degranulation was in Tatera indica (5.6%) followed by Rattus rattus (5.3%)and Bandicota bengalensis (2%) collected from Bathinda. Microsomal degranulation in rats inhabiting Ludhiana district was 1%, 2.4% and 3% respectively. Frequency of micronucleated cells was significantly increased in all field rats inhabiting Bathinda district as compared to Ludhiana district. The present study substantiates the genotoxic potential of environmental contaminants in rats inhabiting south- west region of Punjab.