Dose-Survival Curves of Human Cells in Tissue Culture Irradiated with Alpha-, Beta-, 20-KV. X- and 200-KV. X-Radiation

Journal Article · Sat Mar 24 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Nature (London)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/1931153a0· OSTI ID:4786972

BARENDSEN, G. W.

The inhibition of clone formation was measured after irradiation of kidney cells of human origin (T-cells) with alpha rays from Po/sup 210/, beta rays from Y/sup 90/, and 20 and 200 kv x rays. The surviving fraction of cells irradiated with alpha particles decreased exponentially with dose. An initial slope of the 200 kv curve at low doses corresponded to an LD/sub 37/ of 450 plus or minus 100 rads, as calculated from survival percentages of 94.3 plus or minus 2.3 and 89.7 plus or minus 2.1 at doses of 25 and 50 rads, respectively. The slope further increased continuously with the dose and corresponded to an LD/ sub 37/ of 180 rads at a dose of 700 rads and to an LD/sub 37/ of about 110 rads at a dose of 1400 rads. Results indicate that there is no straightline portion at higher doses in the survival curve obtained with 200 kv x radiation. The shape of the survival curves has consequences for the interpretation of the recovery of sub-lethal damage. By fractionation of 200 kv x radiation doses, the surviving fraction of cells is increased if the interval is sufficiently large. With alpha radiation, however, no differences due to fractionation were detected. This suggests that the single event part of the damage produced by sparsely ionizing radiation cannot be repaired. (P. C. H.)

• Research Organization: Radiobiological Inst., National Health Research Council, TNO, Rijswijk, Netherlands
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-16-012930
• OSTI ID: 4786972
• Journal Information: Nature (London), Journal Name: Nature (London) Journal Issue: 4821 Vol. 193; ISSN 0028-0836
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALPHA PARTICLES
ANIMAL CELLS
BETA DECAY
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
KIDNEYS
LIFETIME
MAN
POLONIUM 210
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION INJURIES
RECOVERY
X RADIATION
YTTRIUM 90