The induction of micronuclei in mice hepatocytes and reticulocytes by terrachloroethylene

The clastogenicity of tetrachloroethylene (tetra) was detected by means of the micronucleus assay using hepatocytes and relticulocytes from ddY male mice, to understand its effects in upon hepatocellular carcinomas in mice. The frequency of micronucleated hepatocytes of mice that received a single injection of tetra after partial hepatectomy increased to levels that were significantly higher than those of controls treated with solvent. However, the micronucleus assay using peripheral blood reticulocytes from ddY male mice, revealed that tetra did not induce to a statistically significant increase in micronucleus frequency. These results suggested that tetra metabolites have a clastogenic effect in vivo upon mouse liver but not upon bone marrow cells.