Chromosome aberrations in Norwegian reindeer calves exposed to fallout from the Chernobyl accident

Abstract

Chromosome aberrations were analysed in 1222 peripheral blood lymphocytes from 24 reindeer, Rangifer tarandus L., calves from central Norway, where considerable fallout from Chernobyl accident had occurred, and in 1532 lymphocytes from 26 calves from three different districts in Northern Norway which were not affected by fallout from the accident. Three dicentrics, two rings, and three translocations were detected in calves from the exposed area, while no dicentrics, nor rings and only one translocation were detected in the control calves. The frequency of chromatid-type aberrations and chromosome deletions did not significantly differ between the two groups. Although the present study is based on a limited number of observations, the radioactive burden in the exposed reindeer, and the differing character of the chromosome aberrations in the two groups, might indicate that certain genetic effects have occurred as a result of the Chernobyl accident in Norwegian reindeer in the most contaminated areas.