DNA-electrophoresis of single cells - a method to screen for irradiated foodstuffs

Microelectrophoresis of single cells can be used to detect γ-irradiation over a wide dose range and for a variety of products. It is a simple and rapid test for DNA damages and can be used for screening. The method was tested on cell suspensions of bone marrow and muscle cells from frozen chicken legs, chicken heart, turkey liver, beef and pork irradiated with doses up to 3 kGy. Cell suspensions were prepared by incubation of tissues in EDTA-SDS-buffer at pH 8. Single cell electrophoresis was performed in 0.75% agarose gel. DNA was visualised by silver staining. In unirradiated samples no or only a small amount of DNA penetrated the cell membranes. Cells of irradiated samples appeared like a ''comet'' due to to migration of DNA-fragments out of cell. (orig.)