The effect of hypoxia on the growth and radiation response of mammalian cells in culture

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Abstract
During prolonged hypoxia, a progressive change occurs in the radiosensitivity of cultured mammalian cells. An attempt was made to determine whether this could be explained on the basis of a progressive change in the life cycle or age distribution of cells during hypoxia. Cell population growth kinetics and the cell life cycle were studied by two conventional methods of analysis. Both indicated an appreciable heterogeneity in the cell populations with regard to the ability of individual cells to negotiate their life cycle during hypoxia. This heterogeneity was confirmed by studying the development of individual microcolonies under hypoxia.