In vitro micronucleus method with erythropoietin-differentiated erythrocytes

A new in vitro micronucleus method has been developed for the detection of chromosomal damage in mouse bone-marrow erythrocytes which are differentiated with erythropoietin (EPO). After the hemolysis of bone-marrow erythrocytes, newly-formed polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) were observed in cultures incubated in the presence of EPO. Using the erythroid differentiation technique, increased frequencies of micronuclei were detected in PCEs after treatment with mitomycin C. In addition, the in vitro micronucleus method was found to be more sensitive than the in vitro chromosomal aberration test on Chinese hamster cells. The results show that the in vitro micronucleus method using EPO-differentiated erythrocytes is a highly sensitive and useful system for the detection of mutagens.