Micronuclei induced by selenium, mercury, methylmercury and their mixtures in binucleated blocked fish erythrocyte cells.

The genotoxic effects of low concentrations of Se(IV), Hg2+, and CH3HgCl added separately or together (Se(IV)/CH3HgCI) were studied by determining the induction of micronuclei in the binucleated erythrocytes of Prussian carp. The frequencies of micronuclei were elevated in a dose-dependent manner in all treatments when compared to the relevant controls. Addition of Se(IV) reduced the frequencies of micronuclei in treatments with both forms of mercury. This novel approach to genotoxicity testing using binucleated cytokinesis-blocked erythrocytes in fish appears to be worth further study as a method for monitoring the genotoxicity of waterborne pollutants.