Evaluation of Genotoxic Effects of Xenobiotics in Fishes Using Comet Assay—A Review

Abstract

Comet assay is a useful tool on the evaluation of DNA damage, and it can estimate the genetic risk followed by xenobiotic exposures. This technique has been extensively used to detect DNA lesions in a large number of tissues because its application requires viable cells that are not necessarily mitotically active. It has been recognized that the use of aquatic organisms as sentinels is of fundamental importance on environmental biomonitoring studies, and the DNA strand breaks in these organisms are fast and sensible indicators of pollutant exposure. Additionally, these bioassays detect single or associated toxic effects of these contaminants and reduce the influence of different environmental variability. The current literature presents a large number of in vitro and in vivo analyses using Comet Assay with fishes from Brazilian fauna; however, the use of endemic species is preferential considering the importance of standardization of the methodology that is employed to detect the DNA damage.