The effects of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on the radiation sensitivity of bacterial spores. [X-ray]

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3575712· OSTI ID:5208584

Ewing, D

Dimethylsufoxide (DMSO) is a potent sensitizer of irradiated bacterial spores (Bacillus megaterium). It is effective under either anoxic or well-oxygenated conditions; in both cases, DMSO increases the response by a factor of 3 to 4. In water, the oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) with 260-kVp X rays is 1.9, while in pure DMSO, which is not toxic to spores, the OER is reduced to 1.1. Spores exposed to DMSO and then washed and resuspended in water still show most of the DMSO-characteristic sensitization, even when the spores are soaked in water for 24 hr before irradiation. This effect is not attributable to DMSO retention by the spore; instead, we suggest that DMSO causes a long-lasting change in a critical spore component that changes the way the entire cell responds to radiation.

• Research Organization: Hahnemann Medical Coll. and Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
• OSTI ID: 5208584
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Vol. 90:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIAL SPORES
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CELL KILLING
RADIOINDUCTION
DMSO
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RETENTION
BACILLUS MEGATERIUM
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
OXYGEN ENHANCEMENT RATIO
SURVIVAL CURVES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
X RADIATION
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SPORES
SULFOXIDES
560121* - Radiation Effects on Cells- External Source- (-1987)
550701 - Microbiology- Tracer Techniques