[Micronuclei induced by ultraviolet radiations or X rays in mammal cells in vitro]

The effects of UV light or X rays in cultured Chinese hamster cells have been initially analyzed in terms of cell growth and colony survival. On the basis of these preliminary observations the induction of micronuclei has been studied on the same in vitro system. The increase in micronuclei yield appears to be dose-dependent, but also to vary according to the protocol used for micronuclei preparation. In general, the results confirm the hypothesis that micronucleus production is a dynamic phenomenon.