Effect of Salt Solutions on the Radiosensitivity of Mammalian Cells

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Abstract
The effects of a wide concentration range of NaCl solutions containing either ouabain, ethanol, para-nitroacetophenone (PNAP), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), cysteamine or dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) on cellular radiosensitivity have been examined. Ouabain and NEM treatment increased the radiosensitivity of V79 Chinese hamster cells, but the action of these chemicals did not depend on the concentration of NaCl. PNAP increased cellular radiosensitivity with increasing NaCl concentration reaching a maximum effect at 0·6 to 0·7 M NaCl. The radioprotective properties of cysteamine, DMSO and ethanol were all strongly dependent on the NaCl concentration in a complex but qualitatively similar manner. DMSO (2·0 M) increased radiation survival of cells after a 1380 rad dose by a factor of about 104 when present in 0·075 M NaCl and by a factor of 8·7 when present in 1·2 M NaCl.