Radiation‐induced micronuclei in peripheral erythrocytes of Rana catesbeiana: An aquatic animal model for in vivo genotoxicity studies

An in vivo micronucleus assay for peripheral erythrocytes of Rana catesbeiana tadpoles was developed and evaluated. The assay was used to determine the spontaneous frequency of micronuclei in circulating erythrocytes in tadpoles from two different populations, to define the time from administering the clastogen to the maximum micronucleus frequency in peripheral erythrocytes, and to determine the response to radiation. The spontaneous frequency of micronuclei in circulating erythrocytes of early-stage tadpoles was low (3.6 +/- 2.8 micronuclei per 1,000 erythrocytes, MN o/oo), but higher than that of late-stage tadpoles (1.7 +/- 0.7 MN o/oo). The time from the exposure of early-stage tadpoles to radiation (2.1 Gy) to the maximum micronucleus frequency was about 2 wk. The increase in frequency of micronuclei in peripheral erythrocytes of late-stage tadpoles receiving doses ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 Gy was linear with dose; a 3-fold increase was obtained with a dose of 3.0 Gy. The spontaneous frequency of micronuclei in erythrocytes and the increase in frequency induced by radiation appeared to differ in tadpoles from different populations. Quantification of micronuclei in the peripheral erythrocytes of R catesbeiana tadpoles provides a promising whole-animal system for studies of genotoxicity in aquatic environments.