A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF TK6 HUMAN LYMPHOBLASTOID AND L5178Y MOUSE LYMPHOMA CELL-LINES IN THE IN-VITRO MICRONUCLEUS TEST

Micronucleus induction was compared in human lymphoblastoid TK6 and mo use lymphoma L5178Y cell lines treated with model clastogens and spind le poisons, i.e., X-rays, methyl methanesulfonate, ethyl methanesulfon ate, mitomycin C, colcemid, and vincristine. The spontaneous micronucl eated cell (MNC) frequency was stable and reproducible in both cell li nes. All clastogens and spindle poisons studied here induced micronucl ei in both cell lines. They increased MNC frequency at lower concentra tions or caused a greater increase at the same concentration in TK6 ce lls. These clastogens and spindle poisons, however, were also more tox ic to TK6 than to L5178Y cells and when comparison was based on cytoto xicity, they showed more efficient MNC induction in L5178Y cells. In c onclusion, neither cell line was superior to the other, and both of th em can be used as target cells in the in vitro micronucleus assay.