Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Tıbbi Biyoloji ve Genetik Anabilim Dalı Mersin It is known that cigarette smoking leads to many types of disease and shortens of human life-time. In this study, The effects of cigarette smoking were investigated on the SCE (Sister Chromatid Exchange)frequency and the lymphocyte lifespan. Subjects who had not been exposed any related chemical agents, had not smoked were selected as control group. The study was carried out on smokers (5 years, at least 1 packet/day). Two tests were performed: Chromosome analyses (CA) and SCE. SCE and mitotic index frequencies were determined. Lymphocyte counts were counted with hemogram apparatus. Mitotic index frequency and lymphocyte count were used to determine the lymphocyte life-span. SCE frequency in the smokers is higher than in non-smoker (for non-smokers (mean value)=5.84 and for smoker (mean value)=7.73). In control group, mitotic index frequency was 2,08 and lymphocyte count was 2202 while this values were 2.64 and 2531 respectively for experimental group (p<0.05). The increase of mitotic index in smokers is higher than non-smoker (p<0.05). The results show that lymphocyte life-span in smokers is shorter than in non- smokers (p<0.05). Keywords : Cigarette smoking, SCE, Mitotic index, Lymphocyte count, Lymphocyte life time