Testing Chemical Agents with the Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus Cytome Assay

In order to evaluate the applicability of the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay in routine mutagenicity testing we investigated with this method different chemicals having different mechanisms of action: non-mutagens, direct-acting basealtering mutagens, direct-acting cross-linking mutagens, clastogens including a radiomimetic chemical, indirect-acting spindle poisons and indirect-acting enzyme inhibitors. We looked at the presence of micronuclei as biomarkers for either the loss of chromosome fragments (clastogen) or the loss of a whole chromosome (aneugen), nucleoplasmic bridges as biomarkers for complex rearrangements (e.g., dicentric chromosomes) and nuclear buds as biomarkers for gene amplification. The cytome assay proved to be a suitable tool to investigate genetic effects of environmental agents and to provide insight into their working mechanisms as all chemicals tested showed the expected response.