Evaluation of Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Effects of Gluten in Male Albino Mice

Gluten is a protein commonly found in daily diets in the form of wheat, barley, rye, and other grains. It serves as the structural component in flour, providing the binding qualities that maintain the shape and texture of food items. This study aimed to investigate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of gluten on bone marrow chromosomes and DNA of male albino mice. The animals were divided into four groups: a control group, a negative control group that received an oral dose of 0.02M glacial acetic acid, and two groups that were treated with gluten dissolved in 0.02M glacial acetic acid at doses of 1.5 g/kg and 3.0 g/kg body weight. The treated animals received oral doses with non-consecutively three times a week for a period of four weeks. The study evaluated chromosomal aberrations in the bone marrow, micronucleus test, and DNA damage using the comet assay. The results of the study showed that treatment with 1.5 and 3.0g/kg body weight of gluten induced chromosomal aberrations and damage in DNA content, with an increase in the severity of effects at a higher dose of gluten. The chromosomal aberrations seen included deletion, fragment, centromeric attenuation, centric fusion, ring formation, end to end association, chromosomal gap, beaded chromosomes, and polyploidy. The micronucleus test revealed toxicity in the bone marrow, as shown by appearance of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes and a reduction in the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes. The comet assay showed a significant increase of DNA damage in the tail length of the comet cells. This study concluded that the treatment with gluten has detrimental effects on the bone marrow chromosomes and DNA of mice, as demonstrated by the increased chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei, and DNA damage observed in the treated mice. So, the use of gluten should be within an acceptable and safe range.