The micronucleus assay of lymphocytes is a useful predictive assay of the radiosensitivity of normal tissue: a study of three inbred strains of mice.
Radiation sensitivity was measured by the micronucleus assay in T lymphocytes of the spleen and in fibroblasts derived from three inbred strains of mice, BALB/c, A/J and C3H/He. A linear correlation between the surviving fraction and the micronucleus frequency was obtained. There were clear differences in the radiosensitivity of T lymphocytes and of fibroblasts from the different strains of mice. T lymphocytes and fibroblasts from BALB/c mice were more radiosensitive than those from A/J and C3H/He mice. To explore the correlation between the radiosensitivity of T lymphocytes and of fibroblasts in vitro and the reaction of normal tissue to radiation, the survival ofjejunal crypt stem cells from the three mouse strains was determined using a microcolony assay. The jejunal crypt cells of BALB/c mice were more radiosensitive than those of A/J and C3H/He mice. Thus the order of radiosensitivity of T lymphocytes and fibroblasts in vitro corresponds to the sensitivity ofjejunal crypt cells in vivo. Our results suggest that determining the radiosensitivity of T lymphocytes and fibroblasts in vitro may be useful in predicting the magnitude of radiation-induced damage in the small intestine.
Kinashi
Y
Y
Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, Osaka, Japan.
Ono
K
K
Abe
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D003571:Cytochalasin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D007583:Jejunum / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D013045:Species Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000528:radiation effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*
D003571:Cytochalasin B; D004247:DNA