Test No. 487: In Vitro Mammalian Cell Micronucleus Test
The in vitro micronucleus test is a genotoxicity test for the detection of micronuclei
in the cytoplasm of interphase cells. Micronuclei may originate from acentric chromosome
fragments (i.e. lacking a centromere), or whole chromosomes that are unable to migrate
to the poles during the anaphase stage of cell division. The assay detects the activity
of clastogenic and aneugenic test substances in cells that have undergone cell division
during or after exposure to the test substance. This Test Guideline allows the use
of protocols with and without the actin polymerisation inhibitor cytochalasin B. Cytochalasin
B allows for the identification and selective analysis of micronucleus frequency in
cells that have completed one mitosis, because such cells are binucleate. This Test
Guideline also allows the use of protocols without cytokinesis block provided there
is evidence that the cell population analysed has undergone mitosis.
Published on July 29, 2016Also available in: French
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