Induction of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in European minnow Phoxinus phoxinus and mollie Poecilia latipinna:: an assessment of the fish micronucleus test

In this work, we have measured both micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in renal erythrocytes from European minnow Phoxinus phoxinus and mollie Poecilia latipinna, with the aim to contribute to the standardisation of the micronucleus test for fish species. Intraperitoneal injections of colchicine (10 mg/kg), cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg), or mitomycin C (20 mg/kg) for 24 h induced diverse nuclear abnormalities in minnow erythrocytes, therefore nuclear abnormalities should be added to micronuclei as genotoxicity indicators in fish micronucleus tests. The adequacy of administration protocols based on intraperitoneal injections has been evaluated by injecting saline solution to both species: single or double injections have not induced neither micronuclei nor other nuclear abnormalities in any case. Finally, the differential sensitivity of both species to toxic heavy metals was evaluated by exposing individuals of both species to different doses (0.17, 1.7, 2 x 1.7, and 3.4 mg/kg) of cadmium and mercury for 24 h; we concluded that the mollie is sensitive to both metals whereas the minnow is not sensitive to mercury. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.