ACTION OF RADIATION ON MAMMALIAN CELLS III. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REPRODUCTIVE DEATH AND INDUCTION OF CHROMOSOME ANOMALIES BY X-IRRADIATION OF EUPLOID HUMAN CELLS IN VITRO

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Abstract
X-irradiation of euploid human cells under conditions of stable growth in tissue culture produces chromosomal anomalies whose nature and frequency depend on the dosage level. Below 50 r, the approximate mean lethal dose for cell reproduction in the strains employed, almost all the anomalies obtained are characteristic of single hits. Above this dose range, the incidence of simple breaks is increased, and complex breaks indicative of 2 or more hits per chromosomes appear and increase with dose. These data support the interpretation that the primary process leading to destruction of the reproductive ability of cultured single mammalian cells by X-irradiation is a damage to the chromosomes. An upper limit of 40-60 r appears to be the dose needed to produce an average of 1 chromosome abnormality in an euploid, fibroblast-like human cell under these conditions. Illustrations of various radiation-produced chromosome breaks, trans-locations, dicentrics, and ring chromosomes in reproducing, euploid human cells are presented.

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