DNA damage in T- and B-lymphocytes of rats exposed to benzene

Single cell gel electrophoresis assay was carried out to evaluate DNA damage in T-and B-lymphocytes from rats exposed to benzene and the correlation between DNA damage and the level of t,t-muconic acids, which are urinary benzene metabolites, was investigated. In control rats, the mean values of Olive tail moments in T-and B-lymphocytes were 1.507$\pm$0.187 and 1.579$\pm$0.206 respectively. DNA damages of T-lymphocytes in rats exposed for 4 weeks showed the highest Olive tail moments at each benzene concentration examined (2.72-4.351). However this DNA damage was decreased after 6 weeks of exposure (1.74-2.09). DNA damages of B-lymphocytes did not show such differences with exposure time or benzene concentration (1.49-2.07) except at 200 ppm at 4 weeks. T-lymphocytes show significantly more damages than B-lymphocyte upon acute exposure to benzene.