Abstract: Objective To detect the micronucleus rate of m-phenylenediamine and p-phenylenediamine in mouse bone marrow cells using the single-laser flow cytometry, and an automated experimental method for rapid detection of micronucleus rate in the laboratory was established to investigate the mutation detection of flow cytometry in cosmetic raw materials. Methods Mice were treated with m-phenylenediamine and p-phenylenediamine at doses of 25.0mg/kg、12.5mg/kg、6.25mg/kg、3.12 mg/kg respectively. Flow cytometry was used to detect the polychromatic erythrocyte micronucleus in mouse bone marrow compared with the results of traditional microscopy. Results The number of Micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the test group was increased correspondingly, and the micronucleus rate was increased with the concentration, showing a good dose-effect relationship. Flow cytometry showed a good correlation with the micronucleus rate obtained by conventional microscopy (r = 0.956, P<0.01). Conclusions Flow cytometric analysis is objectivity, specificity and high efficiency. It can replace the traditional microscope to detect the incidence of cosmetic raw materials on the micronucleus of mouse bone marrow cells and evaluate its mutagenicity.

Key words: Flow cytometry, Micronucleus test, Frequency of micronucleated, M-phenylenediamine