United States Prevention, Pesticides EPA712-C-96-226
Environmental and Toxic Substances June 1996
Protection Agency (7101)
&EPA Health Effects Test
Guidelines
OPPTS 870.5395
In Vivo Mammalian
Cytogenetics Tests:
Erythrocyte
Micron ucleus Assay
"Public Draft'
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INTRODUCTION
This guideline is one of a series of test guidelines that have been
developed by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances,
United States Environmental Protection Agency for use in the testing of
pesticides and toxic substances, and the development of test data that must
be submitted to the Agency for review under Federal regulations.
The Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS)
has developed this guideline through a process of harmonization that
blended the testing guidance and requirements that existed in the Office
of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and appeared in Title 40,
Chapter I, Subchapter R of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the
Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) which appeared in publications of the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and the guidelines pub-
lished by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD).
The purpose of harmonizing these guidelines into a single set of
OPPTS guidelines is to minimize variations among the testing procedures
that must be performed to meet the data requirements of the U. S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act (15
U.S.C. 2601) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
(7U.S.C. I36,etseq.).
Public Draft Access Information: This draft guideline is part of a
series of related harmonized guidelines that need to be considered as a
unit. For copies: These guidelines are available electronically from the
EPA Public Access Gopher (gopher.epa.gov) under the heading "Environ-
mental Test Methods and Guidelines" or in paper by contacting the OPP
Public Docket at (703) 305-5805 or by e-mail:
guidelines@epamail.epa.gov.
To Submit Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit com-
ments. By mail: Public Docket and Freedom of Information Section, Office
of Pesticide Programs, Field Operations Division (7506C), Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St. SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person:
bring to: Rm. 1132, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Ar-
lington, VA. Comments may also be submitted electronically by sending
electronic mail (e-mail) to: guidelines@epamail.epa.gov.
Final Guideline Release: This guideline is available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 on The Federal Bul-
letin Board. By modem dial 202-512-1387, telnet and ftp:
fedbbs.access.gpo.gov (IP 162.140.64.19), or call 202-512-0132 for disks
or paper copies. This guideline is also available electronically in ASCII
and PDF (portable document format) from the EPA Public Access Gopher
(gopher.epa.gov) under the heading "Environmental Test Methods and
Guidelines."
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OPPTS 870.5395 In vivo mammalian cytogenetics tests: Erythrocyte
micronucleus assay.
(a) Scope—(1) Applicability. This guideline is intended to meet test-
ing requirements of both the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136, et seq.) and the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA) (15 U.S.C. 2601).
(2) Background. The source material used in developing this har-
monized OPPTS test guideline is OPPT 40 CFR 798.5395 In Vivo Mam-
malian Bone Marrow Cytogenetics Tests: Micronucleus Assay; OPP 84-
2 Mutagenicity Testing (Pesticide Assessment Guidelines, Subdivision F—
Hazard Evaluation; Human and Domestic Animals) EPA report 540/09-
82-025, 1982; and OECD 474 Genetic Toxicology: Micronucleus Test.
(b) Purpose. The micronucleus test is a mammalian in vivo test
which detects damage of the chromosomes or mitotic apparatus by chemi-
cals. Polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow of rodents are used
in this assay. When the erythroblast develops into an erythrocyte the main
nucleus is extruded and may leave a micronucleus in the cytoplasm. The
visualization of micronuclei is facilitated in these cells because they lack
a nucleus. Micronuclei form under normal conditions. The assay is based
on an increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic
erythrocytes in bone marrow of treated animals.
(c) Definition. The definitions in section 3 of TSCA and in 40 CFR
Part 792—Good Laboratory Practice Standards (GLP) apply to this test
guideline. The following definition also applies to this test guideline.
Micronuclei are small particles consisting of acentric fragments of
chromosomes or entire chromosomes, which lag behind at anaphase of
cell division. After telophase, these fragments may not be included in the
nuclei of daughter cells and form single or multiple micronuclei in the
cytoplasm.
(d) Test method—(1) Principle, (i) Animals are exposed to test sub-
stance by an appropriate route. They are sacrificed, the bone marrow ex-
tracted, and smear preparations made and stained. Polychromatic erythro-
cytes are scored for micronuclei under the microscope.
(ii) Micronuclei may also be detected in other test systems:
(A) Tissue culture.
(B) Plants.
(C) Blood smears.
(D) Fetal tissues.
(E) Meiotic cells.
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(F) Hepatic cells.
(2) Description. The method employs bone marrow of laboratory
mammals which are exposed to test substances.
(3) Animal selection—(i) Species and strain. Mice are rec-
ommended. However, any appropriate mammalian species may be used.
(ii) Age. Young adult animals shall be used.
(iii) Number and sex. At least five female and five male animals
per experimental and control group shall be used. Thus, 10 animals would
be sacrificed per time per group if several test times after treatment were
included in the experimental schedule. The use of a single sex or a smaller
number of animals should be justified.
(iv) Assignment to groups. Animals shall be randomized and as-
signed to treatment and control groups.
(4) Control groups—(i) Concurrent controls. Concurrent positive
and negative (vehicle) controls shall be included in each assay.
(ii) Positive controls. A compound known to produce micronuclei
in vivo shall be employed as the positive control.
(5) Test chemicals—(i) Vehicle. When appropriate for the route of
administration, solid and liquid test substances should be dissolved or sus-
pended in distilled water or isotonic saline. Water insoluble chemicals may
be dissolved or suspended in appropriate vehicles. The vehicle used shall
neither interfere with the test compound nor produce toxic effects. Fresh
preparations of the test compound should be employed.
(ii) Dose levels. For an initial assessment, one dose of the test sub-
stance may be used, the dose being the maximum tolerated dose (to a
maximum of 5,000 mg/kg) or that producing some indication of
cytotoxicity, e.g. a change in the ratio of polychromatic to normochromatic
erythrocytes. Additional dose levels may be used. For determination of
dose response, at least three dose levels shall be used.
(iii) Route of administration. The usual routes of administration are
IP or oral. Other routes may be appropriate.
(iv) Treatment schedule. Test substances should generally be admin-
istered only once. However, based upon toxicological information a re-
peated treatment schedule may be employed.
(e) Test performance—(1) Treatment and sampling times, (i) Ani-
mals shall be treated with the test substance once at the highest tolerated
dose. Sampling times should coincide with the maximum responses of the
assay which varies with the test substance. Therefore, using the highest
dose, bone marrow samples should be taken at least three times, starting
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not earlier than 12 h after treatment, with appropriate intervals following
the first sample but not extending beyond 72 h. When other doses are
used sampling shall be at the maximum sensitive period, or, if that is not
known, approximately 24 h after treatment. Other appropriate sampling
times may be used in addition. If the most sensitive interval is known
and documented with data, only this one time point need be sampled.
(ii) If a repeated treatment schedule is used, samples shall be taken
at least three times, starting not earlier than 12 h after the last treatment
and at appropriate intervals following the first sample, but not extending
beyond 72 h.
(iii) Bone marrow shall be obtained immediately after sacrifice. Cells
shall be prepared, put on slides, spread as a smear and stained.
(2) Analysis. Slides shall be coded before microscopic analysis. At
least 1,000 polychromatic erythrocytes per animal shall be scored for the
incidence of micronuclei. The ratio of polychromatic to normochromatic
erythrocytes should be determined for each animal by counting a total of
200 erythrocytes. To ensure consistency with OECD and other guidelines,
1,000 polychromatic erythrocytes are recommended. Additional informa-
tion may be obtained by scoring normochromatic erythrocytes for
micronuclei.
(f) Data and report—(1) Treatment of results. Criteria for scoring
micronuclei shall be given. Individual data shall be presented in a tabular
form including positive and negative (vehicle) controls and experimental
groups. The number of polychromatic erythrocytes scored, the number of
micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes, the percentage of micronu-
cleated cells, the number of micronucleated normochromatic erythro-
cytes, and, if applicable, the percentage of micronucleated erythrocytes and
the ratio of normochromatic to polychromatic erythrocytes shall be listed
separately for each experimental and control animal. Absolute numbers
shall be included if percentages are reported.
(2) Statistical evaluation. Data should be evaluated by appropriate
statistical methods.
(3) Interpretation of results, (i) There are several criteria for deter-
mining a positive response, one of which is a statistically significant dose-
related increase in the number of micronucleated polychromatic
erythrocytes. Another criterion may be based upon detection of a reproduc-
ible and statistically significant positive response for at least one of the
test substance concentrations.
(ii) A test substance which does not produce either a statistically sig-
nificant dose-related increase in the number of micronucleated poly-
chromatic erythrocytes or a statistically significant and reproducible posi-
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tive response at any one of the test points is considered nonmutagenic
in this system.
(iii) Both biological and statistical significance should be considered
together in the evaluation.
(4) Test evaluation, (i) The results of the micronucleus test provide
information on the ability of a chemical to induce micronuclei in poly-
chromatic erythrocytes of the test species under the conditions of the test.
This damage may have been the result of chromosomal damage or damage
to the mitotic apparatus.
(ii) Negative results indicate that under the test conditions the test
substance does not produce micronuclei in the bone marrow of the test
species.
(5) Test report. In addition to the reporting recommendations as
specified under 40 CFR part 792, subpart J, the following specific informa-
tion shall be reported:
(i) Species, strain, age, weight, number, and sex of animals in each
treatment and control group.
(ii) Test chemical vehicle, dose levels used, rationale for dose selec-
tion.
(iii) Rationale for and description of treatment and sampling sched-
ules, toxicity data, negative and positive controls.
(iv) Details of the protocol used for slide preparation.
(v) Criteria for identifying micronucleated erythrocytes.
(vi) Dose-response relationship, if applicable.
(g) References. The following references should be consulted for ad-
ditional background material on this test guideline.
(1) Cihak, R. Evaluation of benzidine by the micronucleus test. Muta-
tion Research 67: 383-384 (1979).
(2) Cole, R.J. et al. Short-term tests for transplacentally active car-
cinogens. 1. Micronucleus formation in fetal and maternal mouse
erythroblasts. Mutation Research 80: 141-157 (1981).
(3) Kliesch, U. et al. Micronucleus test and bone-marrow chro-
mosome analysis. A comparison of 2 methods in vivo for evaluating
chemically induced chromosomal alterations. Mutation Research 80: 321-
332(1981).
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(4) Matter, B. and Schmid, W. Trenimon-induced chromosomal dam-
age in bone-marrow cells of six mammalian species, evaluated by the
micronucleus test. Mutation Research 12: 417-425 (1971).
(5) Schmid, W. The micronucleus test. Mutation Research 31:9-15
(1975).
(6) Schmid, W. The micronucleus test for cytogenetic analysis. Chem-
ical Mutagens, Principles and Methods for their Detection. Vol. 4.
Hollaender A, (Ed.) Plenum New York and London. (1976) pp. 31-53.
(7) Heddle, J.A. et al. The induction of micronuclei as a measure
of genotoxicity. A report of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Gene-Tox Program. Mutation Research 123: 61-118 (1983).
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