Interaction between X-ray and α-particle Damage in V79 Cells

Summary

V79 cells have been exposed to X-rays or ²³⁸Pu α-particles or to X-rays following priming α-particle doses of 0·5, 2 or 2·5 Gy. The survival curve for exposure to α-particles was exponential with a D₀ of 0·89 Gy. Following exposure to priming α-particle doses the resulting X-ray survival curves had the same slope as the single dose X-ray curve, but a reduced shoulder. For α-particle priming doses of 0·5 and 2 Gy this reduction was the same as for the same X-ray doses. 2·5 Gy α-particles reduced the subsequent X-ray curve Dq to almost zero. α-particles do cause damage capable of interacting with X-ray damage.