Ascorbic acid is not clastogenic and does not modify the effect of extended low-dose-rate gamma-irradiation in mouse bone marrow

Abstract

Ascorbic acid was given to CBA mice in drinking water (5%) a week before and during 35-day exposure to gamma-radiation from 137Cs at a very low dose-rate (44 mGy/day). The frequency of micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes (fMNCE) in peripheral blood was monitored by repeated sampling during the exposure. The analyses were made with flow cytometry giving a high resolution because of the large number of cells analysed, about 10 6 for each dose group and sampling occasion. Ascorbic acid in the drinking water did not modify the increase of fMNCE in the gamma-irradiated groups of mice, nor did ascorbic acid influence the fMNCE in the non-irradiated groups of mice.