title: The mouse splenocyte assay, an in vivo/in vitro system for biological monitoring: studies with X-rays, fission neutrons and bleomycin.
abstract: A modified mouse splenocyte culture system was standardized after testing different mitogens (i.e., phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A)). The mitotic index was determined for comparison between different mitogens. Following selection of appropriate mitogen (PHA 16, Flow), a series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the application of a cytokinesis-block for scoring micronuclei and assays for chromosomal aberrations produced by treatment in G0 and G2 for the purposes of biological dosimetry following in vivo and/or in vitro exposure to X-rays, fission neutrons and bleomycin. In the X-irradiation studies, the frequencies of micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations (i.e., dicentrics and rings) increased in a dose-dependent manner. These data could be fitted to a linear-quadratic model. No difference was observed between irradiation in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that measurement of dicentrics and micronuclei in vitro after X-irradiation can be used as an in vivo dosimeter. Following in vivo irradiation with 1 MeV fission neutrons and in vitro culturing of mouse splenocytes, linear dose-response curves were obtained for induction of micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations. The lethal effects of neutrons were shown to be significantly greater than for a similar dose of X-rays. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) was 6-8 in a dose range of 0.25-3 Gy for radiation-induced asymmetrical exchanges (dicentrics and rings), and about 8 for micronuclei in a dose range of 0.25-2 Gy. Furthermore, the induction of chromosomal aberrations by bleomycin was investigated in mouse G0 splenocytes (in vitro) and compared with X-ray data. Following bleomycin treatment (2 h) a similar pattern of dose-response curve was obtained as with X-rays. In this context a bleomycin rad equivalent of 20 micrograms/ml = 0.50 Gy was estimated.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000633:toxicity; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D009502:Neutrons; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D001761:Bleomycin