The Cytogenetic Effects of Repeated Exposure To Ultrasonic Sound Waves In Mice And Their Alterations By A Homoeopathic Drug, Arnica Montana

Abstract

Separate sets of healthy mice were directly exposed to sonication (with the aid of ultrasonic cell disrupter at a frequency of 23 kHz at energy output level of 70) for 2min. 1 min at a time with an interval of 1 min. This dose of sonication was repeated at an interval of 20 days, so that mice sacrificed at 30,60,75 and 90 days after the initial dose actually received 2,3,4 and 5 such doses of sonication, respectively. The genotoxic effects in sonicated mice were assessed through the study of chromosome aberrations (CA), sperm head anomaly (SHA), and micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE) as against suitable unsonicated controls. Further, a group of sonicated mice were orally administered with Arnica Montana-30, a homoeopathic drug commonly used against shock and injury and the results were compared with another set of succussed alcohol fed controls (the “vehicle” of the drug being ethyl alcohol). In the sonicated mice, elevated frequencies of CA (comprising mainly of physiological types), MNE and SHA were noted as compared to that of unsonicated controls. Correspondingly, the cytogenetical effects in sonicated and drug-fed (combined) series appeared to be relatively less as compared to succussed alcohol fed sonicated control, thereby indicating that the homoeopathic drug had positive modifying effect on genotoxicity produced by ultrasonication. The implications of the results have been discussed.