Evaluation of the in vitro micronucleus test as an alternative to the in vitro chromosomal aberration assay: position of the GUM Working Group on the in vitro micronucleus test. Gesellschaft für Umwelt-Mutations-forschung.

In order to license a pharmaceutical or chemical, a compound has to be tested for several genotoxicity endpoints, including the induction of chromosomal aberrations in vitro. A working group within the GUM has evaluated published data on the in vitro micronucleus test with the aim of judging its suitability as a replacement for the in vitro chromosomal aberration test. After strict rejection criteria were applied, a database including 96 publications and 34 compounds was obtained. For 30 of these compounds, data on both tests were available. For 24 of the 30, concordant results in both test systems were obtained (80% correlation). The discordant results in 6 compounds can be explained by a known or suspected aneugenic potential of these compounds. Considering that cell types and test protocols were extremely heterogeneous, this correlation is rather encouraging. Comparison of the different protocols, and experience established within the working group yielded several recommendations for the routine use of the in vitro micronucleus test. Although many cell lines are suitable, those most often used in genotoxicity testing (e.g. CHL, CHO, V79, human lymphocytes, L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells) are recommended. Cytochalasin B may be used in the case of human lymphocytes; however, the possibility of its interaction with aneugenic test compounds should be considered. For continuously dividing cell lines, cytochalasin B is not recommended by the working group. Although, there seems to be flexibility in the choice of treatment and sampling times, the average generation time of the chosen cell line of choice should be taken into account when determining sampling time, and treatment of cells for at least one cell cycle duration is recommended. The use of appropriate cytotoxicity tests is strongly recommended. Although studies on some parameters of the test protocol may be useful, the introduction of the in vitro micronucleus test into genotoxicity testing and guidelines should not be delayed. Even in its present state, the in vitro micronucleus is a reliable genotoxicity test. Compared with the chromosomal aberration test, it detects aneugens more reliably, it is faster and easier to perform, and it has more statistical power and the possibility of automation.

Further evaluation of a modified micronucleus assay with V79 cells for detection of aneugenic effects.

In an earlier publication, we reported on the development of a modified micronucleus assay with V79 cells enabling preferential detection of aneugen-induced micronuclei (Seelbach et al., 1993). Here we present a further evaluation of the modified micronucleus assay based on the investigation of seven further suspected aneugens. Five compounds gave positive results: cadmium chloride, chloral hydrate, hydroquinone, thimerosal and vinblastine. Econazole and pyrimethamine were negative. Up to now, our experience has shown that data produced by the modified V79/micronucleus assay are quite reliable: the variation of spontaneous micronucleus frequencies was low (0.8-1.7%) and the reproducibility of the data was good.

Development of a modified micronucleus assay in vitro for detection of aneugenic effects.

A simple and rapid micronucleus (MN) assay in vitro has been developed with V79 cells enabling preferential detection of aneugen-induced MN. V79 cells were treated with test compounds for 3 hr, the mitoses were shaken off and transferred into new flasks, and after a 3.5-hr recovery period interphase cells were analysed for MN. Using this time schedule only cells that were treated during mitosis or G2-phase plus mitosis were analysed. Four suspected aneuploidy-inducing agents (aneugens) were tested: griseofulvin, methyl 2-benzimidazole carbamate, diazepam and thiobendazole. All four compounds induced MN in the modified V79 assay. For further characterization of the modified V79/MN assay the clastogen mitomycin C (MMC) was investigated with respect to the time-dependency of MN induction. MMC did not induce MN in our modified V79 assay, but was positive after 14 hr of exposure. Induced MN were characterized by CREST staining and by measuring their size. The frequencies of CREST-positive and large MN were increased by the four suspected aneugens analysed. Furthermore, the use of the external metabolization systems, S-9 mix, and hepatocytes, was examined.

Epoxides: comparison of the induction of SOS repair in Escherichia coli PQ37 and the bacterial mutagenicity in the Ames test.

The genotoxicity of 51 epoxides is studied with the SOS-Chromotest using Escherichia coli PQ37 as tester strain. The results obtained with this test system are compared with results of the Ames test. Out of 51 epoxides, 39 are shown to be mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium whereas only 27 mutagenic epoxides induced the SOS response in Escherichia coli PQ37.