Micronucleus tests on N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea with mouse peripheral blood reticulocytes using acridine orange-coated slides.

The micronucleus test with peripheral blood using acridine orange-coated slides was validated in male CD-1 mice treated once with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) at doses of 6.25, 12.5, 25.0, and 50.0 mg/kg body weight. Peripheral blood preparations were made 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment. The frequencies of micronucleated peripheral reticulocytes in the ENU-treated groups increased dose-dependently, peaking at 48 h after treatment. The results indicate that the method used in the present study can be an alternative to the method using bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes.