Interpretation of cytogenetic damage induced in the germ line of male mice exposed for over 1 year to /sup 239/Pu alpha particles, fission neutrons, or /sup 60/Co gamma rays
The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of /sup 239/Pu ..cap alpha.. particles, fission neutrons (0.85 MeV), and /sup 60/Co ..gamma.. rays has been evaluated for the induction of reciprocal chromosome translocations in spermatogonia and of chromosome/chromatid fragments and chromatid rearrangements in the primary spermatocyte of adult male B6CF/sub 1/ mice. Age concurrency was maintained for both internal and external radiations which were delivered at about 1 rad/week for /sup 239/Pu (single intravenous dose of 10 ..mu..Ci/kg), 0.67, 1.67, and 2.67 rad/week for neutrons, and 6.95, 17.4, and 32 rad/week for ..gamma.. rays for at least 60 weeks. In terms of frequency of translocations, the response to the alpha emitter was nonlinear (concave downward) with little dose-response predictability; to cumulative neutron exposures the response was linear, without evidence of a dose-rate effect; and to ..gamma.. radiation the responses were linear, and a significant dose-rate effect was seen. RBE estimates are variable. The overall response to the ..cap alpha.. emitter is interpreted to be a complex function of (a) microdosimetric heterogeneity, (b) a nearly invariant deposition pattern in the gonad, (c) the high sensitivity of differentiating spermatogonia to cell killing, and (d) the capacity of stem cells in relatively radiation-free areas to progressively assume the major spermatogenic role.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5427604
- Journal Information:
- Radiat. Res.; (United States), Vol. 95:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALPHA PARTICLES
MICRODOSIMETRY
RBE
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
FISSION NEUTRONS
SPERMATOCYTES
GENETIC RADIATION EFFECTS
SPERMATOGONIA
COBALT 60
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GAMMA RADIATION
MALES
MICE
PLUTONIUM 239
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ANIMALS
BARYONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COBALT ISOTOPES
DATA
DOSIMETRY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERMIONS
GAMETES
GENETIC EFFECTS
GERM CELLS
HADRONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MUTATIONS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals
550400 - Genetics