감마선 조사 계란의 유전독성학적 안전성을 평가하기 위하여Escherchia coli PQ37 균주를 이용한 SOS chromotest, Chinese hamster lung cell을 이용한 염색체 이상 시험의 in vivo 시험과in vivo 시험으로 마우스를 이용한 소핵시험을 실시하였다. 대사활성계 적용 및 미적용의 in vitro의 모든 시험에서 음성대조군과 통계학적으로 유의적인 차이는 없었다. 또한in vivo 시험에서도 시험물질을 투여한 모든 투여군에서 음성대조군에 비해 통계학적으로 유의적인 독성을 나타내지 않았다. 따라서 감마선 조사된 난백 및 난황은 본 시험조건하에서 직접변이원이나 간접변이원으로 작용하지 않는 것으로 사료된다.
The genotoxicological safety of gamma-irradiated egg white and yolk was examined to ensure that required safety parameters were met, and in an effort to further apply gamma-irradiation for improvement of the hygienic qualities of eggs. Egg white and yolk were irradiated at 20 kGy, much higher than the legally approved dose (less than 5 kGy), and possible genotoxicity was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo tests. The SOS chromotest employing Escherichia coli PQ37, and a chromosomal aberration test in cultured Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells, were performed in vitro with or without metabolic activation (S9). An in vivo micronucleus development test was conducted using mouse bone marrow cells. Negative results were obtained in the SOS chromotest. The incidence of chromosomal aberration in CHL cells and the frequency of micronuclear developmentin mouse bone marrow cells treated with irradiated samples were not significantly different from those of non-irradiated controls. Thus, it may be concluded that up to 20 kGy of gamma irradiation applied to egg white and yolk did not show any genotoxic effects under our experimental conditions.
