Skip Navigation



Mutagenesis Advance Access published online on May 17, 2005
Mutagenesis, doi:10.1093/mutage/gei033
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
20/4/245    most recent
gei033v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Brendler-Schwaab, S.
Right arrow Articles by Speit, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Brendler-Schwaab, S.
Right arrow Articles by Speit, G.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the UK Environmental Mutagen Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oupjournals.org
Received March 17, 2005
Revised April 20, 2005
Accepted April 20, 2005

Review

The in vivo comet assay: use and status in genotoxicity testing

Susanne Brendler-Schwaab 1, Andreas Hartmann 2, Stefan Pfuhler 3, and Günter Speit 4*

1 Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, Bonn, Germany
2 Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
3 Wella AG, Darmstadt, Germany
4 Universität Ulm, Abteilung Humangenetik, D-89069, Ulm, Germany

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Günter Speit, E-mail: guenter.speit{at}medizin.uni-ulm.de


  Abstract

The in vivo comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis assay) in its alkaline version (pH >13) is being increasingly used in genotoxicity testing of substances such as industrial chemicals, biocides, agrochemicals, food additives and pharmaceuticals. Recommendations for an appropriate performance of the test using OECD guidelines for other in vivo genotoxicity tests have been published. In this review, we critically discuss the biological significance of comet assay effects in general and the status of the test in current strategies for genotoxicity testing. Examples for practical applications of the in vivo comet assay and potential consequences of positive and negative test results are given. The significance of comet assay results for hazard identification and risk assessment is discussed. In accordance with international guidelines for genotoxicity testing the in vivo comet assay is recommended for follow-up testing of positive in vitro findings. It is particularly useful as a tool for the evaluation of local genotoxicity, especially for organs/cell types which cannot easily be evaluated with other standard tests. A positive result in an appropriately performed in vivo comet assay indicates genotoxicity of the test compound in the tissue tested and gains particular significance when a mutagenic potential of the test compound has already been demonstrated in vitro. Such findings will have practical consequences in the risk assessment processes and further development of substances.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 MutagenesisHome page
J. M. Serpeloni, M. Bisarro dos Reis, J. Rodrigues, L. Campaner dos Santos, W. Vilegas, E. A. Varanda, A. L. Dokkedal, and I. M. S. Colus
In vivo assessment of DNA damage and protective effects of extracts from Miconia species using the comet assay and micronucleus test
Mutagenesis, November 1, 2008; 23(6): 501 - 507.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 MutagenesisHome page
C. C. Smith, D. J. Adkins, E. A. Martin, and M. R. O'Donovan
Recommendations for design of the rat comet assay
Mutagenesis, May 1, 2008; 23(3): 233 - 240.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 MutagenesisHome page
D. P. Lovell and T. Omori
Statistical issues in the use of the comet assay
Mutagenesis, May 1, 2008; 23(3): 171 - 182.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Toxicol SciHome page
S. Pfuhler, S. Albertini, R. Fautz, B. Herbold, S. Madle, D. Utesch, and A. Poth
Genetic Toxicity Assessment: Employing the Best Science for Human Safety Evaluation Part IV:Recommendation of a Working Group of the Gesellschaft fuer Umwelt-Mutationsforschung (GUM) for a Simple and Straightforward Approach to Genotoxicity Testing
Toxicol. Sci., June 1, 2007; 97(2): 237 - 240.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Toxicol SciHome page
I. Witte, U. Plappert, H. de Wall, and A. Hartmann
Genetic Toxicity Assessment: Employing the Best Science for Human Safety Evaluation Part III: The Comet Assay as an Alternative to In Vitro Clastogenicity Tests for Early Drug Candidate Selection
Toxicol. Sci., May 1, 2007; 97(1): 21 - 26.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
K.-A. da Costa, M. D Niculescu, C. N Craciunescu, L. M Fischer, and S. H Zeisel
Choline deficiency increases lymphocyte apoptosis and DNA damage in humans
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2006; 84(1): 88 - 94.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 MutagenesisHome page
H. Hoffmann, J. Hogel, and G. Speit
The effect of smoking on DNA effects in the comet assay: a meta-analysis
Mutagenesis, November 1, 2005; 20(6): 455 - 466.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.