title: Induction of sister-chromatid exchanges by d(42 MeV)-Be neutrons in unstimulated human-blood lymphocytes.
abstract: The ability of d(42 Mev)-Be neutrons and 250 kV X rays to produce sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) has been re-examined using unstimulated (G0) human-blood lymphocytes. Contrary to a previous report, the neutrons produced a significant and dose-dependent increase in SCE. X rays, as previously, produced no measurable increase at any absorbed dose. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for this end-point is therefore undefined and effectively infinite. In contrast to the findings of many workers, the between-cell distributions of SCE were, in most cases, underdispersed. This could imply that the SCE burden of a cell was not selectively neutral in these experiments.
authors.affiliation: MRC Radiobiology Unit, Chilton, Didcot.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holloway
mesh_terms: D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005214:Fast Neutrons; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D009502:Neutrons; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000528:radiation effects*