Evaluation of the Genotoxicity of Cadmium Chloride in Mice Using the Micronucleus Test

In order to determine the safety of chemicals and pharmaceutical products, various methods can be used to evaluate the toxicity. In this study the genotoxic effect of the widely used industrial chemical, cadmium chloride, was assessed using the micronucleus test in peripheral blood of mice. The presence of micronucleated reticulocytes by microscopic observation following acridine orange staining indicated a potential genotoxic effect. The genotoxicity of intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered cadmium chloride (0.5, 1, 2 mg/kg) appeared to be dose dependent, with the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) found to be 2 mg/kg. Compared to the negative control (saline), cadmium chloride (2 mg/kg) exhibited statistically significant genotoxic potential (P<0.05) but was found to be less than the positive control of mitomycin C (0.5 mg/kg) and was not statistically significant compared to historical negative controls (P>0.05).