High prevalence of chromosome 10 rearrangements in human lymphocytes after in vitro X-ray irradiation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the chromosome symmetric or asymmetric rearrangement (CR) frequency for chromosome 10 compared to chromosomes 1 and 3 induced in vitro in human lymphocytes by low doses of X-rays.


METHODS
Blood samples obtained from three young and healthy volunteers were irradiated in G0 with 0.25, 0.50 and 1 Gy X-rays. Chromosome painting analysis was used on preparations of peripheral lymphocytes for the identification of CR.


RESULTS
It was found that radiation-induced CR levels were nonrandomly distributed among the three painted chromosomes. Chromosome 10 CR frequencies were significantly greater than those involving chromosomes 1 (at all the doses tested) or 3 (at 0.25 and 1 Gy), with frequency ratios ranging from 2.2 to 5.2.


CONCLUSIONS
In comparison to chromosomes 1 and 3, chromosome 10 appeared to be involved in exchanging at a significantly greater extent than expected according to its DNA content.
Scarpato
R
R
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Uomo e dell'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Italy.
Lori
A
A
Tomei
A
A
Cipollini
M
M
Barale
R
R
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D002879:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002893:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D014965:X-Rays