Chromosomal Changes in the Chinese Hamster Thyroid Following X-irradiationin Vivo

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Abstract
We have investigated the effects of x-rays (10–500 R) on the chromosomal-aberration rate of thyroid cells from the Chinese hamster. The thyroid glands of the animals were irradiated and the thyroids removed either immediately or 30 days later. The glands were trypsinized and the cells grown in tissue culture. It was found that the thyroid cells were sensitive to irradiation as indicated by chromosomal damage at dose-levels as low as 10 R. At 30 days, the average incidence of aberrant cells for all dose-levels had decreased 45 per cent. This decrease could be due in part to growth of the gland. The incidence of aberrant thyroid cells for the 10 R and 500 R exposure was 3·06 per cent and 40·3 per cent for the group sacrificed immediately after irradiation. At 30 days the incidence for these levels was 1·40 per cent and 21·9 per cent respectively. For dose-levels in this study, a linear relationship was observed between the percentage of aberrant cells and the dose.