Sister-chromatid exchanges in mouse embryos after exposure to ultrasound in utero.

Mouse embryos at 2 stages of development were exposed to ultrasound. The bone-marrow cells of the mother, the whole embryo, and the embryonic liver cells were analyzed. There was no consistent increase of sister-chromatid exchanges. Furthermore, the thermal effect of ultrasound did not appear to influence the frequency. Thus, ultrasound doses much higher than those used in clinical diagnosis do not induce cytogenetic damage as assayed by sister-chromatid exchanges.