Activation of endogeneous retroviruses in mouse cells by thermal neutrons.
The effect of thermal neutrons on the induction of murine endogenous viruses from a mouse fibroblast cell line was investigated. Thermal neutrons were more effective than X-rays in induction of endogenous virus as well as in killing of the cells. However, when measured as a function of cell killing, both radiations had similar efficiency of induction. The RBEs of thermal neutrons alone were calculated on the assumption that the contribution of contaminating gamma-rays was additive. It was 4.2 for the killing effect and 4-5 for virus induction.
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000382:microbiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D009502:Neutrons; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000254:growth & development*; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000528:radiation effects*