title: Biophysical interpretation of the response of Chinese hamster cells to 24 keV neutrons.
abstract: The response of V79 Chinese hamster cells to a 24 keV neutron spectrum has been compared with data for the response of V79 cells to a range of higher neutron energies. The linear energy transfer (LET) distributions of the neutron spectra were calculated and the expected responses of the cells to the different spectra were calculated using published track-segment data on the response of V79 cells to charged particles with various LET values. The response of the cells to 24 keV neutrons was predicted satisfactorily by the LET distribution, in spite of the fact that the maximum range of the recoil protons is only 0.5 micron. The response was not correctly predicted by the microdosimetric parameter y*D evaluated in a 1 micron diameter sphere.
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Medical Sciences Division, Harwell Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004735:Energy Transfer; D009502:Neutrons; D011836:Radiation Tolerance