title: Application of the constant exposure time technique to transformation experiments with fission neutrons: failure to demonstrate dose-rate dependence.
abstract: A direct comparison of the effectiveness of fission neutrons at high (11.0-31.3 cGy/min) or several low dose-rates (0.14-3.2 cGy/min) was carried out under identical conditions. Monolayers of exponentially growing C3H/10T1/2 cells were exposed at 37 degrees C to reactor-produced neutrons (fluence-mean energy En = 0.68 MeV, < or = 5% gamma component, frequency mean linear energy yF = 21 keV/micron, dose mean lineal energy yD = 42 keV/micron in an 8-micron spherical cavity). Survival or transformation induction were studied at five doses from 10.5 to 94 cGy. In low dose-rate irradiations, these doses were protracted over 0.5, 1, 3 or 4.5 h, resulting in 17 different dose-rates. Up to six experiments were performed at each of five exposure times. Concurrently with transformation we studied cell proliferation in control versus cells irradiated at 40 cGy (acute and a 4.5-h protraction) and found no evidence of a shift in the cell cycle distribution among these cells. At a given dose and dose-rate, the effect of dose protraction on survival or transformation was assessed by the dose-rate modifying factor (DRMF), defined as the low:high dose-rate effect ratio at the same dose. Survival or transformation induction curves were nearly linear with initial slopes, respectively, of about 6.5 x 10(-3) or 6.2 x 10(-6) cGy-1. Consistent with dose-response curves, DRMFs were independent of the dose and dose-rate. The mean values of the DRMF with their uncertainties and 99% confidence intervals, based on measurements in individual doses and dose-rates for survival or transformation were, respectively: 1.01 +/- 0.03 (0.92, 1.09) or 0.98 +/- 0.04 (0.83, 1.08) indicating a similar precision in determining DRMF for survival or transformation, and no dose or dose-rate influence on these end points.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Balcer-Kubiczek
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: McCready
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000528:radiation effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004735:Energy Transfer; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009502:Neutrons; D009680:Nuclear Fission; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013997:Time Factors