[Methods used for evaluating mutagenic and genotoxic properties of chemical compounds. I. The micronucleus test in vivo (an abridged version)].

Methods applied within the micronuclear test in vivo for evaluation of genotoxic effects of chemical substances upon the bone marrow cells of mammals are presented. The test consists of administering the test compound to animals and then, after 30, 48 and 72 hours, making preparations from the bone marrow and calculating the percentage of polychromatic erythrocytes with micronuclei (index of genotoxic effects of the compound) and the ratio of polychromatic to normochromatic erythrocytes (index of toxic effects of the substance on bone marrow cells). As a criterion of genotoxic effects of the compound, adopted is a significant and reproducible difference of results at least once or a significant increase in the percentage of polychromatic erythrocytes with micronuclei and dose-response relationship.