No latent chromosome damage in oxygen-exposed premature neonates

Abstract

The possible effect of in vivo oxygen exposure on chromosomes was examined in lymphocyte cultures of 12 very-low-birthweight infants on the 1st, 8th, and 16th days of intensive care. No increase of cytogenetic anomalies was seen in untreated and bleomycin-treated cultures. The findings suggest that neonatal oxygen exposure is unlikely to cause latent chromosome damage.