ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore a flow cytometry (FCM)-based method for discriminating aneugen- or clastogen-induced micronuclei.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cells were stained with anti-CD71-FITC and PI, and the PI fluorescent signal intensity of micronucleated reticulocyte (MN-RET) in the peripheral blood of NIH mouse treated with COL or CP was detected by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ratio of the median of the intensity of MN-RET fluorescent signals to that of nucleated cell was low in the cyclophosphamide treated mouse, while the median was high in the colchicine treated mouse.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The flow cytometry-based micronucleus assay can be used to discriminate primarily smaller MN induced by the clastogen exposure from the larger MN induced by an aneugen.</p>