Genotoxicity of realgar by in vivo micronucleus test and comet assay

OBJECTIVE To detect the genotoxicity of realgar by using short-term administration(mouse bone marrow cell micronucleus test and comet assay) and long-term administration(rat bone marrow cell micronucleus test and comet assay in which bio-samples were collected from reproductive toxicity test),and to study the possibility of detecting genotoxicity of realgar integrated with reproductive toxicity test.METHODS Mice were ig administered with realgar suspension 0.25,0.5,and 1.0 g·kg-1 for 2 d,before being sacrificed.Bone marrow cells were collected for micronucleus tests and comet assay.During early embryonic development,rats were ig given realgar 0.125,0.25 and 0.55 g·kg-1.The administration lasted at least 42 d for male rats and 19 d for females before they were allowed to mate.After mating successfully,the male rats were sacrificed the next day and the female rats on the 15th day of pregnancy.Then the bone marrow cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected for micronucleus tests and comet assay.RESULTS Compared with negative control group,the micronucleus rate in bone marrow cells with realgar 0.25,0.5 and 1.0 g·kg-1 groups was 3.00‰,4.40‰ and 7.01‰,respectively.The tailing rate was 6.3%,9.7% and 11.3%,respectively(P0.05,P0.01).In reproductive toxicity rats,the micronucleus rate and lymphocyte micronucleus rate in peripheral blood of male rats with realgar 0.55 g·kg-1 group were 2.83‰ and 6.67‰ while those of female rats with realgar 0.25 and 0.55 g·kg-1 groups were 1.5‰ and 2.25‰,2.58‰ and 4.40‰,respectively.The comet tailing rate in realgar 0.125,0.25 and 0.55 g·kg-1 group had significant differences(P0.05).CONCLUSION It is feasible to integrate the in vivo micronucleus test and comet assay into reproductive toxicity tests.Micronucleus tests in peripheral blood lymphocytes are simple.Realgar has genotoxicity at the designed doses.