Comparative assessment of cytogenetic disorders, indicators of proliferation and destruction of the nucleus in the cells of the vaginal and buccal epithelium in pregnant women living in environmentally unfavourable territories

Introduction. Many pollutants of various natures constantly worsen the environmental situation, thereby causing irreparable harm to the health of the population. Technogenic impact on the biosphere has become one of the significant factors dictating our conditions of existence on Earth.

Purpose of the study. To conduct a comparative analysis of the frequency of cytogenetic disorders, proliferation indicators and nuclear destruction in the vaginal and buccal epithelium in 26–33 years pregnant women living in conditions of radiation, chemical, and combined contamination of the Bryansk region.

Materials and methods. State Report “On the State and Environmental Protection of the Russian Federation micronucleus test, Shapiro–Wilk test, Mann–Whitney U test.

Results. The frequency of cytogenetic disorders, indicators of proliferation and destruction of the nucleus in the vaginal epithelium in 28–33 years pregnant women living in areas of radioactive, chemical, and combined environmental pollution is 1.3–4.9 times higher (p<0.01–0.001), and in the buccal epithelium it is 1.6–7.8 times higher (p<0.001) in comparison with environmentally safe (control) areas. The combined influence of radioactive contamination and chemical pollution led to a significantly higher (increase from 12.8% to 81.4% in the vaginal epithelium and from 22.6% to 2.3 times in the buccal epithelium) frequency of cells with micronuclei, protrusions, binucleate cells, cells with a double nucleus, as well as cells with karyopyknosis and karyolysis in pregnant women compared to areas where there is only one pollution factor.

Limitations. We did not analyze socio-economic factors, the health status of newborns, and statistical data on childbirth in the cities and districts of the Bryansk region.

Conclusion. The obtained results indicate, with all likelihood, the synergistic nature of the effects of radiation and chemical factors on the cytogenetic status in pregnant women.

Compliance with ethical standards. At the beginning of the study, informed voluntary consents were obtained from each patient.

Contribution:
Domakhina A.S. – cytomic analysis, analysis of literary data, statistical processing, writing text;
Korsakov A.V. – concept and design of the study, interpretation of the results, analysis of literary data, writing text, editing;
Troshin V.P. – cytomic analysis, data analysis and interpretation, writing text, editing;
Milushkina O.Y., Pivovarov Yu.P., Korolik V.V. – interpretation of the results, writing text, editing.
All co-authors – approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: April 14, 2024 / Revised: September 10, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2024 / Published: March 7, 2025