title: Tradescantia micronucleus bioassay.
abstract: Four coded chemicals, azidoglycerol (AG), N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), sodium azide (NaN3), and maleic hydrazide (MH), were tested with the Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassay by five independent laboratories from five different countries. The purpose of this international collaborative study was to evaluate four plant bioassays, of which the Trad-MCN assay was one, for their sensitivity, efficiency and reliability. The study was carried out under the sponsorship of the International Programme on Chemical Safety. All laboratories adhered to a standard Trad-MCN protocol which suggested that three replicate tests be conducted with each chemical. The results reported by all laboratories, although not equal, showed good agreement among the laboratories. In fact, all five laboratories obtained positive results with MH and MNU, while four of the five laboratories achieved positive results with NaN3. AG was tested in only three laboratories. Two reported negative results, while one reported positive results but only at a single high dose. The data from this study suggest that under normal conditions, the Trad-MCN bioassay is an efficient and reliable short-term bioassay for clastogens. It is suitable for the rapid screening of chemicals, and also is specially qualified for in situ monitoring of ambient pollutants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, Macomb 61455.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Vandenberg
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Salamone
mesh_terms: D001386:Azides / Q000633:toxicity; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007391:International Cooperation; D008300:Maleic Hydrazide / Q000633:toxicity; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000633:toxicity; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods*; D009153:Mutagens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000633:toxicity; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019810:Sodium Azide
chemical_list: D001386:Azides; D009153:Mutagens; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; C052086:azidoglycerol; D019810:Sodium Azide; D008300:Maleic Hydrazide