Assessment of the in vivo aneuploidy/micronucleus assay in mouse bone marrow cells with 16 chemicals

Environ Mol Mutagen. 1992;20(2):106-16. doi: 10.1002/em.2850200206.

Abstract

Assessment of the in vivo aneuploidy/micronucleus Assay in bone marrow cells with 16 chemicals is described. This assay is based on the detection of kinetochores (KC) in micronuclei (MN) by antikinetochore-specific (CREST) antibodies. Among sixteen chemicals tested, six were known clastogens, three were known aneuploidy-inducers, and the other seven were suspected spindle poisons. These chemicals were tested for their ability to induce micronuclei with kinetochore(s) in bone marrow cells of CD-1 mice. The majority of MN formed in bone marrow cells treated with aneuploidy-inducing agents contained kinetochore(s) which are considered to be formed from whole chromosomes or centric fragments, while in clastogen treated bone marrow cells, majority of them contained no kinetochore(s) which are considered to be formed from acentric chromosomal fragments. Classification of chemicals into either aneuploidy inducing agents or clastogens is based on the relative frequency of MN with and without KC, respectively. These results suggest that the in vivo aneuploidy/micronucleus assay has a great potential to identify aneuploidy-inducing agents.

MeSH terms

  • Aneuploidy*
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow / drug effects*
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects*
  • Erythrocytes / pathology
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Micronucleus Tests*
  • Mutagens / toxicity*
  • Spindle Apparatus / drug effects

Substances

  • Mutagens