CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS IN IRRADIATED AND NITROGEN MUSTARD TREATED MICE

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Radiation Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3571114· OSTI ID:4805968

Stevenson, K G; Curtis, H J

Chromosome aberrations in regenerating mouse liver have been used as an index of somatic mutations to assess the role of mutations in normal aging and in life shortening caused by radiation and other agents. The experiments consisted of a group of mice given a single dose of 700 r of x rays at age 8 weeks; groups of mice given three intraperitoneal injections weekly of 0.003 mg or 0.01 mg of nitrogen mustard; and saline-injected controls. They were followed until 12 months of age. Normal mice exhibited steadily increasing numbers of abnormalities with age, reaching 22% at 10 months. After a single dose of x rays, a high proportion of cells showed aberrations, which declined less than 50% over a 6-month period. The rate of accumulation of abnormalities in the nitrogen mustardtreated groups did not differ from the rate in the controls. Statistical analysis showed that the abnormalities in the two nitrogen mustard groups taken together were an average 5% greater than in controls. The 0.003-mg group did not differ significantly from the 0.01-mg group. In so far as chromosome abnormalities in these cells are indicative of somatic mutations, these results suggest that mutations may contribute a real but not decisive part in natural and radiation-induced aging, and that nitrogen mustard is too weak a mutagen to shorten the life span significantly. (auth)

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-005207
• OSTI ID: 4805968
• Report Number(s): BNL-5450
• Journal Information: Radiation Research, Journal Name: Radiation Research Vol. Vol: 15
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AGE
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CHROMOSOMES
CYTOLOGY
LIFETIME
LIVER
MICE
MUTATIONS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN MUSTARD
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION INJURIES
REGENERATION
STATISTICS
X RADIATION