title: Evaluation of the relative sensitivity of chromosome painting (FISH) as an indicator of radiation-induced damage in human lymphocytes.
abstract: Fluorescence in situ hybridization with whole chromosome libraries, also known as chromosome "painting", is an easy and rapid method for detection of chromosome aberrations. To evaluate the sensitivity of this in radiation dosimetry we have made comparisons with G-banding analysis and also with physicochemical measurements of radiation induced DNA damage (DNA strand breaks and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine formation). Heparinised human blood was irradiated at room temperature with a range (0-10 Gy) of gamma irradiation from a cobalt 60 source. Chromosome spreads prepared from phytohaemagglutinin stimulated "whole blood" lymphocyte cultures were hybridized in situ with the whole chromosome 1 library, coded, and scored for aberrant cells. Dose response curves plotted as percent abnormal cells obtained by the two cytogenetic methods were similar and it would appear that chromosome "painting" compared favourably with G-banding for the detection of aberrations. The measurement of DNA strand breaks by a fluorimetric alkaline unwinding assay showed similar sensitivity to chromosome "painting" whereas the formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine did not correlate with aberration frequencies.
authors.affiliation: LFS Research Unit, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, U.K.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pheasant
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Faux
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chipman
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hultén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity