Dynamics of micronuclei in mouse skin fibroblasts after gamma irradiation

Micronuclei (MN) were assessed in dermal fibroblasts from C3H HeJ and C57 Bl6 mice (6-10 mo of age) irradiated in vivo as a potential method of biodosimetry. Radiation-induced MN [per 1,000 binucleated (BN) cells], assessed in fibroblasts obtained 1 d post-irradiation, increased in a dose-dependent manner in the range of 1 - 10 Gy per single dose. Analysis at 1 wk post irradiation showed some attenuation of MN response in C3H HeJ male mice, suggesting partial recovery of DNA damage. This was not observed in C57 Bl6 mice. Monomicronucleated cells predominated in unirradiated fibroblasts, whereas in irradiated fibroblasts multimicronucleated cells predominated at dose levels above about 5 Gy (more than 1,000 MN per 1,000 BN cells). Modeling of the data indicate that assaying total MN in dermal fibroblasts from samples of irradiated skin taken up to 1 wk after irradiation can provide biodosimetric information (with an accuracy of 1-2 Gy) for doses up to at least 6 Gy with lesser accuracy at higher doses. Percentage of multimicronucleated cells may be useful as a substitute of total MN at the higher doses, but total percentage of micronucleated cells is of limited value as a substitute.