micronucleustesti

Micronucleustesti, often referred to as the micronucleus test, is a cytogenetic technique used to detect genotoxic effects, which are harmful changes to genetic material. This test is commonly employed in toxicology and genotoxicity testing to assess the potential of a substance to cause chromosome damage. The principle of the test relies on observing the formation of micronuclei within the cytoplasm of cells undergoing cell division.

Micronuclei are small, extra-nuclear bodies that contain chromosome fragments or whole chromosomes that have not been incorporated into the main nucleus during mitosis. Their presence indicates that chromosomal damage or aneuploidy (an abnormal number of chromosomes) has occurred. The test is typically performed on cell cultures, such as mammalian cells, or on cells from living organisms, like bone marrow or peripheral blood cells.

The process generally involves exposing cells to the test substance, followed by cell culture and treatment with a cytochalasin B block. Cytochalasin B prevents cytokinesis (cell division) while allowing nuclear division to proceed. This results in binucleated cells, making it easier to identify and quantify micronuclei in the cytoplasm. The frequency of micronuclei is then compared between treated and control groups to determine if the substance has induced a genotoxic effect. The micronucleus test is a sensitive and widely accepted method for genotoxicity assessment.