The influence of radiation quality on radiation-induced hemolysis and hemoglobin oxidation of human erythrocytes.
Human erythrocytes were exposed to gamma-rays and alpha-particles to assess radiation-induced membrane damage and hemoglobin oxidation and denaturation. With all parameters measured, the alpha-particles proved to be less efficient than the gamma-rays. The time-dependence of hemolysis showed also clear differences: with the gamma-rays the process was faster, reaching saturation after 40-90 min (depending on dose), but with the alpha-particles the final level was attained only after about 3-7 h. Hemoglobin oxidation and denaturation could be measured only after gamma-exposure, but they were negligible with the alpha-particles when comparable doses were applied. These results are interpreted by proposing that OH-radicals, whose yields are smaller with densely ionizing radiation, play a crucial role in the induction of the processes for radiation-induced erythrocyte damage.
Department of Molecular Biophysics, University of Łódź, Poland. puchala@biol.uni.lodz.pl
Mieczysław
M
Puchała
Zofia
Z
Szweda-Lewandowska
Juegen
J
Kiefer
D000512:Alpha Particles; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer / Q000502:physiology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011489:Protein Denaturation / Q000528:radiation effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness
D006454:Hemoglobins