Persistence and accumulation of micronucleated hepatocytes in liver of rats after repeated administration of diethylnitrosamine.

A repeat-dose micronucleus assay in adult rat liver was recently developed [Mutat. Res. 747 (2012) 234-239]. This assay demonstrated a high detectability of hepatocarcinogens at relatively low doses, as indicated by dose-dependent micronucleus induction. Because the adult rat liver is known to have a long life-span, this desirable property of the assay will be an advantage in detecting micronucleated hepatocytes (MNHEPs) that have persisted for long periods in the liver following repeated dosing. However, no data directly supporting the underlying mechanisms have been published to date. In the present study, we verified the mechanisms by means of pulse-labeling of micronucleated hepatocytes with the thymidine analog 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU). The rodent hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was repeatedly administered orally to male Crl:CD (SD) rats (6 weeks old) for up to 2 weeks, and EdU was injected intraperitoneally on days 1, 7, or 14. Hepatocytes were isolated by use of a non-perfusion technique at 24h, 1 week, or 2 weeks after EdU injection and analyzed for EdU incorporation and micronucleus formation. The results of our study confirmed that MNHEPs labeled with EdU on the first day of DEN administration persisted until 2 weeks post-administration in the rat livers. However, the frequency of MHNEPs among EdU-labeled hepatocytes decreased over time. In addition, the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end-labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in the liver tissue increased, suggesting selective removal of micronucleated cells. Theoretical calculation of the cumulative MNHEP frequency on each of the days on which DEN was administered, taking into account the rate of loss, came out closer to the actual value observed in the liver micronucleus test. Taken together, these results indicate that although micronucleated cells induced in rat livers by administration of the genotoxic hepatocarcinogen DEN undergo selective removal, they persist for a long time in a certain proportion, and repeated administration results in their accumulation and increased frequency.

The genotoxic, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, haematotoxic and histopathological effects in rats after aluminium chronic intoxication.

Aluminium (Al) is used in water purification and is also present in several manufactured foods and medicines. Al is known to induce a broad range of physiological, biochemical and behavioural dysfunctions in laboratory animals and humans. This investigation was carried out to investigate the effects of subchronic exposure to Al (as AlCl3) in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly separated into two groups. Group 1 rats treated with sodium chloride served as the control, group 2 rats were treated with Al (as AlCl3, 5 mg/kg body weight) intraperitonally for 10 weeks. Animals were killed and blood samples were analyzed for blood serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme activities and creatinine, urea (U) and uric acid (UA) levels for evaluating hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Blood parameters including red blood cells (RBCs), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, haematocrit (Ht), platelets (PLTs) and white blood cells (WBCs) were compared between control and experimental group to assess haematoxicity. In order to determine the genotoxicity, the number of micronucleated hepatocytes (MNHEPs) was counted in isolated hepatocytes. In addition, histological alterations in liver and kidney samples were investigated. After exposure with Al, the enzymatic activities of ALP, AST, ALT and LDH, and the levels of U and UA significantly increased. RBC, WBC, PLT, Hb and Ht revealed significant decreases in experimental group compared to the control. AlCl3 caused a significant increase in MNHEPs. Furthermore, severe pathological damages were established in both liver and kidney samples. Subchronic exposure to low doses of Al can produce serious dysfunctions in rat blood, liver and kidney, and exposure to this metal can result in greater damages.

The effect of aging on the repeated-dose liver micronucleus assay.

BACKGROUND: The liver micronucleus (MN) assay is an effective and important in vivo test for detecting genotoxic compounds. In particular, the repeated-dose liver MN (RDLMN) assay which greatly facilitates incorporation of the liver MN assay into the general toxicity study has been developed. Usefulness of the RDLMN assay was appraised highly in the 7th International Workshops on Genotoxicity Testing (2017 in Tokyo) in that sufficient numbers and types of chemicals were studied and easy integration into the general toxicity study is preferred from the 3R's point of view. However, it was pointed out that it is necessary to evaluate the effect of age at the start of 4-week repeated administration, since there are limited data, where only those of rats of 6 week of age at the start of administration are available. In this study, we conducted the 4-week RDLMN assay using rats of 6 and 8 weeks of age (at the start of administration) to investigate the effect of age on the liver MN inducibility. Clofibrate, a weak inducer of liver MN, was used in this study to detect the slight difference in the liver MN induction. RESULTS: The liver MN induced by clofibrate was detected in both rats of 6 and 8 weeks of age at the start of administration. However, the liver MN induction was lower in rats of 8 weeks of age compared to rats of 6 weeks of age at the start of administration. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the liver MN inducibility decreases with age. Therefore, we recommend the use of rats of 6 weeks of age at start of administration to reliably detect the liver MN induction in the RDLMN assay.

Chimeric mice with human hepatocytes: A new system for genotoxicity studies.

Genotoxicity assays are characterized by a method, an in vitro or in vivo target, and an endpoint. Many cell types have been used as targets, including bacterial cells, cultured mammalian cells, and rodent cells in vivo. Human cells are the most important target for evaluating the risk to humans associated with exposure to chemicals. Almost exclusively, the human cells used in genotoxicity tests have been cultured cells. Here, we have tested human hepatocytes in PXB-mice®, chimeric mice in which the liver has been repopulated with human hepatocytes, as a source of target cells for in vivo genotoxicity assays. We applied the single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay to detect DNA damage and the micronucleus assay to evaluate chromosomal aberrations. These chimeric mice can serve as a valuable model system for genotoxicity assays.

Effectiveness of the liver micronucleus assay using juvenile mice.

This study investigated the effectiveness of the liver micronucleus (MN) assay using juvenile mice. Therefore, we analyzed various hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP)- mediated activities of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation, pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylation, tolbutamide hydroxylation, bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation, aniline hydroxylation and midazolam 4-hydroxylation by CYP1A, CYP2B, CYP2C, CYP2D, CYP2E and CYP3A, respectively, in non-treated male ICR mice aged between 3 and 8 weeks. The enzyme efficiency levels in 3- and 4-week-old mice were approximately similar to or higher than those in 8-week-old mice, except for CYP1A and CYP2E in 3- and 4-week-old mice, respectively. Since these results suggest that juvenile mice have sufficient activities for most CYP enzymes, we also conducted a liver MN assay using diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a rodent hepatocarcinogen, on male ICR mice aged between 3 and 6 weeks. A peripheral blood (PB) MN assay was performed simultaneously in 4-week-old mice. Assays incorporating DEN produced positive results in 3- and 4-week-old mice and showed a dose-dependent increase in the micronucleated hepatocyte frequencies at 4 weeks. Both the liver MN assay in 5- and 6-week-old mice and the PB MN assay had negative results when using DEN. These results suggest that 3- and 4-week-old mice have micronuclei-inducing potential in the liver to detect genotoxic compounds using the liver MN assay.

Optimization of specimen preparation from formalin-fixed liver tissues for liver micronucleus assays: Hepatocyte staining with fluorescent dyes.

The liver micronucleus (MN) assay is an effective and important in vivo test for detecting genotoxic compounds, particularly those that require metabolic activation. For this assay, hepatocytes (HEPs) can be isolated by collagenase treatment but without requirement for in situ liver perfusion. Consequently, the liver MN assay can be integrated into a general repeated-dose (RD) toxicity study. The method is also applicable to liver MN assays involving partial hepatectomy or the use of juvenile rats. Here, we propose an improved method for staining HEPs prepared from formalin-fixed liver tissues for MN assays, without collagenase treatment. HEP suspensions are prepared by treating the tissues with concentrated KOH and a fluorescent dye, SYBR(®) Gold (SYGO), is used for staining. Visualization of the MN in SYGO-stained HEPs is clearer than with Wright-Giemsa staining. We compared the induction of MN as measured with our new method versus the conventional method using collagenase dispersion. Our method not only enables the integration of the liver MN assay into a general RD toxicity study but also allows it to be conducted retrospectively.

Evaluation of a repeated-dose liver micronucleus assay with 2,6-dinitrotoluene using young adult rats.

As part of a collaborative study by the Mammalian Mutagenicity Study Group of the Environmental Mutagen Society of Japan, we examined micronucleus induction in hepatocytes following oral administration of 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT) at 30, 40, and 50mg/kg/day for 14 days or at 20, 30, and 40mg/kg/day for 28 days to young adult male rats. This compound is known to be a rat liver carcinogen. The formation of micronucleated hepatocytes was confirmed to be dose-dependent with statistically significant increases observed in both treatments. In contrast, no statistically significant changes in the percentage of micronucleated immature erythrocytes were observed in any dose group in the bone marrow micronucleus assay. These results indicated that the repeated-dose liver micronucleus assay has the potential to detect genotoxic hepatocarcinogens and can be integrated into general toxicological studies.

Evaluation of in vivo genotoxicity by thioacetamide in a 28-day repeated-dose liver micronucleus assay using male young adult rats.

The repeated-dose liver micronucleus (RDLMN) assay has the potential to detect liver carcinogens and can be integrated into general toxicological studies. In this study, thioacetamide (TAA) was tested in 14- and 28-day RDLMN assays to assess the performance of the assay. The test substance, TAA, was administered orally to 6-week-old male Crl:CD (SD) rats once daily for 14 or 28 days at a dosage of 5, 10 or 20mg/kg/day. Hepatocytes were collected approximately 24h after the last TAA administration, and the incidence of micronuclei was assessed. In this study, bone marrow micronucleus assays were also conducted in the same animals. The 14- and 28-day RDLMN assays indicated that none of the TAA dosages significantly increased the proportion of micronucleated hepatocytes. Bone marrow micronucleus assays with TAA also provided negative results. It is known that TAA is a liver carcinogen in mice and rats. In the previous genotoxic studies, the Ames test and the chromosomal aberration test using CHL/IU cells have yielded negative results [1-4]. The liver micronucleus assay using young adult rats singly dosed with TAA (75 and 150mg/kg) also produced negative results [5]. TAA gave positive results only in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus assays [6,7].

Prolonged rest period enables the detection of micronucleated hepatocytes in the liver of young adult rats after a single dose of diethylnitrosamine or mitomycin C.

A repeated-dose micronucleus assay utilizing young adult rat hepatocytes was recently developed to evaluate the genotoxicity. In this assay, accumulation of micronucleated hepatocytes (MNHEPs) induced by repeated dosing of genotoxic chemicals is considered to be a key factor in the detection of micronuclei induction. Then, we hypothesized that the period following chemical exposure enable the detection of MNHEP induction in young adult rats, namely that MNHEPs can be generated from chromosomally damaged cells and accumulate following initiation of chemical exposure until sampling. We therefore measured MNHEP induction at 2 or 4 weeks after a single oral administration of 12.5, 50, or 100mg/kg of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) or an intraperitoneal administration of 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0mg/kg of mitomycin C (MMC) to young adult rats. Results showed a statistically significant, dose-dependent increase in the numbers of MNHEPs in DEN- or MMC-treated rats, indicating that prolonged rest period following a single dose of a genotoxic chemical enables the detection of MNHEP induction in the liver of young adult rats. From these results, a single oral administration of 50mg/kg of DEN with a 2- or 4- week rest period can be used as a positive control in repeated-dose liver micronucleus assays. This procedure is superior in terms of labor saving and animal welfare to repeated dosing of DEN.

Repeated-dose liver and gastrointestinal tract micronucleus assays for quinoline in rats.

Repeated-dose liver, bone marrow, and gastrointestinal tract micronucleus assays that use young adult rats were evaluated in a collaborative study that was organized by the Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society-Mammalian Mutagenicity Study Group. A genotoxic hepatocarcinogen quinoline was orally administered to independent groups of five Crl:CD (SD) male rats at doses of 30, 60 and 120mg/kg for 14 days and at doses of 15, 30 and 60mg/kg for 28 days. After treatment, the livers were harvested and hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase treatment. The frequency of micronucleated hepatocytes (MNHEPs) increased significantly in both the 14- and 28-day repeated dose studies. However, the frequency of micronucleated cells did not increase in the bone marrow, stomach or colon cells, which were not quinoline-induced carcinogenic target organs in the rats. These results indicate that a repeated-dose liver micronucleus (RDLMN) assay using young adult rats is capable of detecting the genotoxicity of quinoline at the target organ of carcinogenicity. The protocol may also permit the integration of the genotoxic endpoint into general repeated-dose toxicity studies. Furthermore, we elucidated that conducting the micronucleus assay in multiple organs could potentially assess organ specificity.

Evaluation of a repeated dose liver micronucleus assay in rats treated with two genotoxic hepatocarcinogens, dimethylnitrosamine and 2-acetylaminofluorene: the possibility of integrating micronucleus tests with multiple tissues into a repeated dose general toxicity study.

As part of a collaborative study by the Collaborative Study Group for Micronucleus Test (CSGMT) of the Mammalian Mutagenicity Study Group (MMS) in the Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society (JEMS), the present study evaluated the effectiveness of the repeated dose liver micronucleus (RDLMN) assay. Two genotoxic hepatocarcinogens, dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), were administered orally to male rats (6 weeks old at the initial dosing) once daily for 14 and 28 days to evaluate the micronucleus (MN) inducibility in the liver. In addition, these chemicals were evaluated for MN inducibility in the bone marrow (BM) and gastrointestinal (GI) tract, i.e. glandular stomach and colon of the same animals used in the RDLMN assay. As a result, both chemicals produced positive results in the liver, although a weak positive response was given by 2-AAF. DMN gave negative results in the tissues other than the liver. 2-AAF produced positive responses in the BM and glandular stomach, and a prominent response was particularly observed in the glandular stomach, which is directly exposed to the test chemicals by gavage. The present results suggest that the RDLMN assay is a useful method for detecting genotoxic hepatocarcinogens, and that it is especially effective for evaluating test chemicals, such as DMN, undetectable by the BM and GI tract MN assay. Moreover, the results in this investigation indicate that the use of multiple tissues in the study integrating the MN tests is more effective than using a single tissue, for detection of the MN induction produced by chemical exposure to rats, and helps to determine the characteristics of the test chemicals.

Evaluation of the repeated-dose liver micronucleus assay with p-dimethylaminoazobenzene.

The micronucleus induction by p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB), a genotoxic rat liver carcinogen, was assessed in the liver and bone marrow of young adult rats after the repeated administration of DAB for 14 (Lab. 1) and 28 (Lab. 2) days. Three dose levels, 25, 50 and 100mg/kg/day, were used for the investigations in both labs. The frequency of micronucleated hepatocytes was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner after the repeated administration of DAB at 50mg/kg/day or more for 14 and 28 days. Similarly, the frequency of micronucleated immature erythrocytes in the bone marrow was increased after the repeated administration of DAB at 100mg/kg/day for 14 and 28 days. These results indicate that the repeated-dose liver micronucleus assay allowed for the detection of micronucleus induction by DAB, and that the lowest detectable dose for micronucleus induction in the liver was lower than in the bone marrow. Thus, the repeated-dose liver micronucleus assay using young adult rats is considered suitable for the detection of micronucleus induction by liver carcinogens, such as DAB.

Repeated-dose liver micronucleus assay: an investigation with 2-nitropropane, a hepatocarcinogen.

The utility of the repeated-dose liver micronucleus (RDLMN) assay in the detection of a genotoxic hepatocarcinogen was evaluated. In this paper, a rat hepatocarcinogen, 2-nitropropane (2-NP), was administered orally to young adult rats for 14 and 28 days without a partial hepatectomy or a mitogen, and the micronucleus induction in liver was examined using a simple method to isolate hepatocytes. In addition, a bone marrow micronucleus assay was conducted concomitantly. The frequency of micronucleated hepatocytes induced by 2-NP increased significantly in both the 14- and 28-day repeated-dose studies, while the bone marrow micronucleus assays were negative in each study. These results indicate that the RDLMN assay is useful for detecting a genotoxic hepatocarcinogen that is negative in bone marrow micronucleus assays and is a suitable in vivo genotoxicity test method for integration into a repeated-dose general toxicity study.

Repeated-dose liver micronucleus assay of mitomycin C in young adult rats.

The repeated-dose liver micronucleus (RDLMN) assay has been previously reported to be effective for the detection of hepatocarcinogens and suitable for general toxicology studies. A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate whether this RDLMN assay using young adult rats without collagenase perfusion of the liver can be used to detect genotoxic carcinogens. In this study, we performed the RDLMN assay in young adult rats that received intraperitoneal injections of 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0mg/kg/day of mitomycin C (MMC) for 14 and 28 days. The micronucleus induction in the bone marrow was concurrently measured, and a histopathological examination of the liver was conducted. The results revealed that the frequency of micronucleated hepatocytes (MNHEPs) was significantly increased in all of the treatment groups. However, the highest occurrence of MNHEPs was observed in the low-dose treatment group in both the 14- and the 28-day study periods. In addition, histopathological changes indicating hepatotoxicity were not observed even in the group that received the highest dose of MMC. There was no change in the frequency of metaphase hepatocytes in any of the treatment groups compared with our facility's background data. However, the frequency of proliferating hepatocytes, as assessed by Ki-67 positivity, was decreased at the highest dose, as was the frequency of MNHEPs. Therefore, the decreased induction of MNHEPs in the high-dose groups might be explained by suppression of hepatocyte cell division. In contrast, the frequency of micronucleated immature erythrocytes in the bone marrow significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner in all of the treatment groups in both study periods. Repeated treatment of MMC induced micronuclei in the liver. These results suggest that the novel RDLMN assay can be used to detect MMC genotoxicity in the liver.

Evaluation of the repeated-dose liver micronucleus assay using N-nitrosomorpholine in young adult rats: report on collaborative study by the Collaborative Study Group for the Micronucleus Test (CSGMT)/Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society (JEMS)-Mammalian Mutagenicity Study (MMS) Group.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of a repeated-dose liver micronucleus (LMN) assay in young adult rats as a collaborative study by the Mammalian mutagenicity study (MMS) group. All procedures were performed in accordance with the standard protocols of the MMS Group. Six-week-old male Crl:CD(SD) rats (5 animals/group) received oral doses of the hepatocarcinogen N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) at 0 (control), 5, 10, and 30mg/kg/day (10mL/kg) for 14 days. Control animals received vehicle (water). Hepatocytes were collected from the liver 24h after the last dose, and the number of micronucleated hepatocytes (MNHEPs) was determined by microscopy. The number of micronucleated immature erythrocytes (MNIMEs) in the femoral bone marrow was also determined. The liver was examined using histopathologic methods after formalin fixation. The results showed statistically significant and dose-dependent increases in the number of MNHEPs in the liver at doses of 10mg/kg and greater when compared with the vehicle control. However, no significant increase was noted in the number of MNIMEs in the bone marrow at doses of up to 30mg/kg. Histopathology of the liver revealed hypertrophy and single cell necrosis of hepatocytes at doses of 5mg/kg and above. These results showed that the induction of micronuclei by NMOR was detected by the repeated-dose LMN assay, but not by the repeated-dose bone marrow micronucleus assay.

The 14-day repeated dose liver micronucleus test with methapyrilene hydrochloride using young adult rats.

The repeated dose liver micronucleus (RDLMN) assay using young adult rats has the potential to detect genotoxic hepatocarcinogens that can be integrated into a general toxicity study. The assay methods were thoroughly validated by 19 Japanese facilities. Methapyrilene hydrochloride (MP), known to be a non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogen, was examined in the present study. MP was dosed orally at 10, 30 and 100mg/kg/day to 6-week-old male Crl:CD (SD) rats daily for 14 days. Treatment with MP resulted in an increase in micronucleated hepatocytes (MNHEPs) with a dosage of only 100mg/kg/day. At this dose level, cytotoxicity followed by regenerative cell growth was noted in the liver. These findings suggest that MP may induce clastogenic effects indirectly on the liver or hepatotoxicity of MP followed by regeneration may cause increase in spontaneous incidence of MNHEPs.

Detection of micronuclei in hepatocytes isolated from young adult rats repeatedly treated with N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine.

To assess the effectiveness of the multiple dose liver micronucleus (MN) assay, the induction of micronuclei by N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine (NDPA), a genotoxic rodent carcinogen, was compared in hepatocytes (HEPs) and bone marrow (BM) cells. Young adult male rats were treated orally with NDPA at 6 weeks of age for 14 days using daily doses of 10, 20 and 40mg/kg. Samples of the liver and BM tissues were harvested from each animal one day following the last treatment with NDPA and were evaluated for the frequencies of micronucleated cells. Repeated doses with 40mg/kg/day of NDPA caused systemic and hepatic toxicity, including suppressed body weight gains and histopathological hepatic lesions. The frequencies of micronucleated HEPs were significantly increased in all the NDPA-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, the induction of micronuclei in the BM was undetectable, even at the high dose level of 40mg/kg, for which the inhibition of hematopoiesis was observed. For the detection of micronucleated HEPs induced by NDPA treatment, a 14-day administration period is adequate. The liver MN assay using naive young adult rats may be integrated into general repeated-dose toxicity studies including histopathological examinations. Our results suggest that the liver MN assay using multiple doses is more efficient and sensitive than the BM MN assay in detecting the in vivo genotoxic potential of NDPA.

Repeated-dose liver and gastrointestinal tract micronucleus assays with CI Solvent Yellow 14 (Sudan I) using young adult rats.

The in vivo genotoxicity of CI Solvent Yellow 14 (Sudan I) was examined using repeated-dose liver and gastrointestinal tract micronucleus (MN) assays in young adult rats. Sudan I is a mono-azo dye based on aniline and 1-amino-2-hydroxynaphthalene. This dye was demonstrated as a rat liver carcinogen in a National Toxicology Program (NTP) bioassay, and genotoxicity was noted in a rat bone marrow micronucleus (BMMN) assay. In the present study, Sudan I was administered orally to rats for 14-days, and the MN frequency in the liver, stomach, colon, and bone marrow were analyzed. The frequency of micronucleated hepatocytes (MNHEPs) was not significantly increased by the administration of the Sudan I. Gastrointestinal tract MNs were also not induced. However, in the BMMN assay, a significant increase in micronucleated immature erythrocytes (MNIMEs) was observed in a dose-dependent manner. While Sudan I has been reported to lack hepatic genotoxicity, it has also exhibited tumor-promoting activities. These results are consistent with the lack of induction of MN in the hepatocytes. The lack of MN induction in cells of the gastrointestinal tract was also logical because azo-compounds are reported to be unlikely to induce DNA damage in the rat gut. The repeated-dose rat liver and gastrointestinal tract MN assays have the potential to be used in the evaluation of the genotoxicity of a chemical in each organ in accordance with its mode of action.

Assessment of genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of an aqueous extract of Cleistocalyx nervosum var. paniala in in vitro and in vivo models.

Cleistocalyx nervosum var. paniala, an edible fruit found in Northern Thailand, contains high amounts of phenolic compounds with in vitro antioxidant activity. The aqueous extract of the ripe fruit was evaluated for its safety and beneficial effects using genotoxicity and toxicity tests. The C. nervosum extract was not only non-mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 in the presence and absence of metabolic activation, but exhibited also moderate antimutagenic effects against aflatoxin B1 and 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline-induced mutagenesis. Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometric analysis revealed the major anthocyanins, which included cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-5-glucoside. The administration of C. nervosum at concentration of 5,000 mg/kg bw did not induce acute toxicity in rats. A liver micronucleus test was performed to detect clastogenicity and anticlastogenicity. The extract in the dose of 1,000 mg/kg did not cause micronucleus formation in the liver of rats. Furthermore, in rats administered 100-1,000 mg/kg of the extract, no anticlastogenic effect against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic micronucleus formation was observed. These studies provide data concerning the safety and antimutagenic potency of an aqueous extract of C. nervosum fruit.