CHROMOSOME FRAGILITY IN NEW-ZEALAND BLACK MICE - EFFECT OF ULTRAVIOLET AND GAMMA-RADIATIONS ON FETAL FIBROBLASTS INVITRO

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 64  (4) , 939-941
Abstract
The sensitivity of fibroblasts cultured from New Zealand Black (NZB) and BALB/c mouse fetuses to UV and gamma radiations was tested with colony-forming ability and chromosome abnormalities. When compared with BALB/c cells, NZB cells had reduced colony-forming ability and increased chromosome abnormalities after UV irradiation. However, no differences were seen in colony formation or frequency of chromosome abnormalities between NZB and BALB/c cells after exposure to .gamma. radiation. This apparent UV specificity strengthens the suggestion that NZB mice might be used as a model to study the relationship between chromosome abnormalities and cancer in human syndromes such as xeroderma pigmentosum, which is characterized by chromosome instability.