Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Mutagenesis. 2011 Jan;26(1):215-21. doi: 10.1093/mutage/geq080.
Micronucleus (MN) assays with early pollen tetrad cells of Tradescantia (Trad-MN assays) are at present the most widely used bioassays with plants for the detection of genotoxins in the environment. So far, ∼ 160 chemicals have been tested and ∼ 100 articles that concern complex environmental mixtures were published. This article summarises the results of Trad-MN studies, which have been carried out during the last 15 years with individual compounds and investigations concerning the pollution of environmental compartments (soil, water and air). The evaluation shows that the effects of certain genotoxins such as heavy metals, radionuclides, pesticides and air pollutants can be easily detected with this test. Comparisons with results obtained in MN studies with mitotic (root tip) cells indicate that meiotic tetrad cells are in general more sensitive. Important issues for future research concern the evaluation of the suitability of wildlife Tradescantia species that are sometimes used instead of specific clones (such as #4430 for which standardised protocols have been developed) as well as the assessment of the predictive value of Trad-MN results in regard to the prediction of cancer hazards in humans and adverse effects at the ecosystem level. The fact that the genotoxic effects of certain compound such as metals, which can be detected with plant bioassays, in particular with the Trad-MN assay but not in other commonly used bioassays (e.g. in bacterial tests) makes them an essential element in the batteries for environmental monitoring.
微核（MN）分析与早熟花粉四分体细胞（Trad-MN 分析）是目前最广泛应用于植物的生物检测法，用于检测环境中的遗传毒素。迄今为止，已经有∼160 种化学物质进行了测试，并且有∼100 篇关于复杂环境混合物的文章已经发表。本文总结了过去 15 年来，使用单个化合物和调查环境成分（土壤、水和空气）污染的 Trad-MN 研究的结果。评估表明，某些遗传毒素（如重金属、放射性核素、农药和空气污染物）的作用可以通过该测试轻松检测到。与有丝分裂（根尖）细胞的 MN 研究结果进行比较表明，在一般情况下，减数分裂四分体细胞更为敏感。未来研究的重要问题涉及评估有时用于代替特定克隆（例如已经开发出标准化方案的#4430）的野生型 Tradescantia 物种的适用性，以及评估 Trad-MN 结果在预测人类癌症风险和生态系统水平的不良影响方面的预测价值。某些化合物（如金属）的遗传毒性效应可以用植物生物检测法，特别是 Trad-MN 检测法来检测，但不能用其他常用的生物检测法（如细菌测试）来检测，这一事实使得它们成为环境监测电池的重要组成部分。
