[Methods for the evaluation of the mutagenic and genotoxic properties of chemical compounds. III. The sister chromatid exchange test in vivo (an abbreviated method)].

The principle and experimental procedure of the in vivo sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test applied in the screening of chemical compounds for their mutagenic properties are presented. The objective of this assay is to evaluate the ability of a test chemical to induce SCE in bone marrow cells of laboratory rodents. Animals are exposed to test substances by appropriate means and are sacrificed at sequential intervals. Chromosome preparations from bone marrow cells of the exposed animals are stained and examined for the presence sister chromatid exchange. The criterion of mutagenic effect of the test chemical is the dose-related increase in SCE frequency and/or statistically significant and reproducible positive response (beyond the level of the control group) for at least one dose of the test chemical.