title: Study of DNA damage with a new system for irradiation of samples in a nuclear reactor.
abstract: In this paper, we report results of a quantitative analysis of the effects of neutrons on DNA, and, specifically, the production of simple and double breaks of plasmid DNA in aqueous solutions with different concentrations of free-radical scavengers. The radiation damage to DNA was evaluated by electrophoresis through agarose gels. The neutron and gamma doses were measured separately with thermoluminescent detectors. In this work, we have also demonstrated usefulness of a new system for positioning and removing samples in channel BH#3 of the IEA-R1 reactor at the Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (Brazil) without necessity of interrupting the reactor operation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Tecnologías y Ciencias Aplicadas, InSTEC; Avenida Salvador Allende y Luaces, Quinta de Los Molinos, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana, AP 6163, Cuba. mrgual@instec.cu
authors.forename: Maritza R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gual
authors.forename: Felix M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Milian
authors.forename: Airton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deppman
authors.forename: Paulo R P
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Coelho
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry; D005720:Gamma Rays; D009502:Neutrons; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D004247:DNA