Effects of benzene in a micronucleus test on peripheral blood utilizing acridine orange-coated slides

A micronucleus test was conducted on the peripheral blood of mice and rats utilizing acridine orange-coated slides (AO-coated method) after oral administration of benzene. Blood was sampled at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after administration of benzene at doses of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg in both mice and rats. The highest occurrence of micronucleated reticulocytes (MNRETs) was observed at 48 h after administration in both species. Species differences was found in the frequency of MNRETs, with the number being lower in rats than in mice. The present results indicate that the micronucleus test can easily detect chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood induced by benzene administration in both mice and rats. Furthermore, the AO-coated method used in this study was simpler to perform and allowed for easier detection of the effect than the conventional method.