Cellular proto-oncogene expression following exposure of mice to gamma rays.
Many studies have shown the importance of altered cellular proto-oncogene expression in contributing to changes in cell survival, cell transformation, and cell cycle progression. In these experiments we examined the effects of total-body exposure of BCF1 mice to gamma rays (3 Gy) in modulating expression of cellular oncogenes in both gut and liver tissues. We selected specific cellular oncogenes (c-fos, c-myc, c-src, and c-H-ras), based on their normal expression in liver and gut tissues from untreated mice. As early as 5 min following whole-body exposure of BCF1 mice to gamma rays we detected induction of mRNA specific for c-src and c-H-ras in both liver and gut tissues. Accumulation of c-fos-RNA was slightly decreased in gut but was unaffected in liver tissue from irradiated mice relative to untreated controls. Accumulation of c-myc mRNA was unaffected in all tissues examined. These experiments document that modulation of cellular proto-oncogene expression can occur as an early event in tissues following irradiation and suggest that this modulation may play a role in radiation-induced cellular changes.
Anderson
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Argonne National Laboratory, Biological and Medical Research Division, Illinois 60439-4833.
Woloschak
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GE
D000818:Animals; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D015870:Gene Expression; D007422:Intestines / Q000528:radiation effects; D008099:Liver / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D011831:Radiation Genetics; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes