Effect of route of administration in the micronucleus test with potassium bromate.

The effect of intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) versus oral gavage administration (p.o.) of potassium bromate was examined using the micronucleus test in 2 strains of male mice (MS/Ae and CD-1). First, a small acute toxicity test and a pilot micronucleus experiment were performed to determine the appropriate dose range and sampling time for the full-scale micronucleus test. The full-scale test was carried out using doses of 18.8, 37.5, 75, and 150 mg/kg in the i.p. test and of 37.5, 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg in the p.o. test. The sampling time was 24 h for both mouse strains. Potassium bromate induced micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) dose-dependently by both routes of administration in both mouse strains. No distinct difference in route of administration was observed in the test with MS/Ae mice. In CD-1 mice more MNPCEs were induced by the i.p. route than by the p.o. route.