Chromosome abnormalities and the mitotic index in lymphocyte cultures and micronuclei in buccal mucosa cells were investigated in a sample of underground mineral coal miners from Southern Brazil. A decreased mitotic index, an excess of micronuclei and a higher frequency of chromosome abnormalities (fragments, polyploidy and overall chromosome alterations) were observed in the miners when compared to age-paired normal controls from the same area. An alternative assay for clastogenesis in occupational exposition was tested by submitting lymphocytes from non-exposed individuals to a pool of plasmas from the exposed population. This assay proved to be very convenient, as the lymphocytes obtained from the same individuals can be used as target as well as control cells. Also, it yielded a larger number of metaphases and of successful cultures than with common lymphocyte cultures from miners. A significantly higher frequency of chromatid gaps, fragments and overall alterations were observed when lymphocytes from control subjects were exposed to miner plasma pools. Control plasma pools did not significantly induce any type of chromosome alterations in the cultures of normal subjects, thus indicating that the results are not due to the effect of the addition of plasma pools per se.

Relata-se um caso de uma menina com 10 anos de idade, mentalmente retardada e com semelhanças com a síndrome de Down, cuja análise cromossômica revelou um mosaicismo pouco freqüente, incluindo 10% de mitoses com um cromossoma em anel substituindo um cromossoma D. O quadro clínico da paciente é similar ao descrito por Jacobsen (1966) e Emberger et al. (1971) que interpretaram a presença do cromossoma em anel em seus pacientes como sendo o cromossoma 15.

The case of a ten-years-old mentally retarded girl with Down's syndrome-like features whose chromosome analysis revealed an unusual mosaicism including 10% mitosis with a ring chromosome replacing a D chromosome is reported. The clinical features of the patient were considered similar to those described by Jacobsen (1966) and Emberger et al. (1971) who interpreted the ring chromosome present in their patients as being chromosome 15.