[The mutagenic and modifying properties of emoxipin studied by micronucleus assay in liver cells]

Emoxypin is a medicinal drug from the group of 3-oxypyridines. We studied the capacity of emoxypin to affect the spontaneous level of micronuclear aberrations in the hepatocytes (to decrease or increase it by exerting a mutagenic effect) using the micronucleus test, as well as the capacity to modulate (enhance or weaken) the effects of nitrosomethylurea and X-irradiation. The results obtained do not suggest cytogenetic activity of emoxypin. The nature of "spontaneous" micronuclear aberrations in the liver are discussed, as well as the causes of their age-related increase and adequacy of this model to search for antimutagens.