RADIOMIMETIC EFFECTS OF A NITROGEN MUSTARD ON SURVIVAL, GROWTH, PROTEIN AND NUCLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS OF MAMMALIAN CELLS IN VITRO

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Exptl. Cell Res.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4827(63)90151-4· OSTI ID:4640865

Levis, A G; Spanio, L; De Nadai, A

The effects of different doses of a nitrogen mustard (HN2) on a guinea- pig cell strain grown in vitro, were compared to the effects of x-rays on similar systems. The survival curve is similar to those obtained after xirradiation. The low extrapolation number suggests that, also in this case, the loss of reproductive capacity may be due to the induction of lethal mutations, probably chromosomal. The growth curves give evidence of the inhibition of cell multiplication. The inhibition is immediate and increases with increasing doses. Some of the inhibited cells, however, may eventually recover the capacity to multiply. When the inhibition is permanent, the cells grow into giants. Despite mitotic inhibition, the synthesis of proteins and RNA continues until highly abnormal cellular levels are reached. DNA synthesis is the most sensitive to HN2 treatment, and is stopped early, when the DNA content per cell doubles its normal value. The early inhibition of synthetic processes would appear to be secondary to the block of cell division, although a direct effect on DNA synthesis cannot be excluded. (P.C.H.)

• Research Organization: Universita, Padua
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-035505
• OSTI ID: 4640865
• Journal Information: Exptl. Cell Res., Journal Name: Exptl. Cell Res. Vol. Vol: 31
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CHROMOSOMES
GUINEA PIGS
MITOSIS
MUTATIONS
NITROGEN MUSTARD
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RECOVERY
REPRODUCTION
RIBONUCLEIC ACID
SURVIVAL TIME
X RADIATION