The micronucleus assay using peripheral blood reticulocytes from X-ray-exposed mice

• Published in: Mutation Research-Environmental Mutagenesis and Related Subjects 1995-12, Vol.335 (3), p.229-234
• Main Authors: Lenarczyk, Marek, Slowikowska, Maria G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Micronucleus test; Mouse; Non ionizing radiations. Hertzian waves. Biooptics; Peripheral blood reticulocyte; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; X-ray
• ISSN: 0165-1161
• DOI: 10.1016/0165-1161(95)00025-9

A new ‘fluorescence’ variant of the micronucleus assay using supravital staining of peripheral blood reticulocytes with an acridine orange coated slide was recently developed. In this study the application of this method to detect a mutagenic response to low-dose exposure of X-irradiation is reported. The mice were exposed to a single dose of 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 50 cGy. The induction of micronuclei in peripheral blood reticulocytes was recorded with sampling times of 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after exposure without killing of mice. Dose-dependent effects were observed at sampling times of 24–72 h reaching maximum levels at 48 h after X-ray exposure. A highly significant ( p < 0.01) increase of the micronucleated reticulocytes was found for doses of 10, 15, 25, and 50 cGy. Neither the dose of 2.5 nor 5 cGy induced the significant increase in the incidence of micronucleated reticulocytes compared with the respective control group.