Early detection of cytogenetic damage from radiation or chemical agents by flow-cytometric analysis of micronucleated cd71-positive reticulocytes in human peripheral blood

Abstract

Micronuclei (MN) are formed upon cell division in cells with DNA double-stand break(s) or dysfunctional mitotic spindle apparatus. Based on the detailed understanding of MN origin, the rodent-based micronucleus test has become the most widely utilized in vivo system for evaluating chemicals’ clastogenic and aneugenic potential. The rodent-based tests are most typically performed as reticulocyte-(RET) based assays. Target cells for RET-based micronucleus assays were traditionally obtained from the bone marrow compartment.