Temperature and the Formation of Radiation-induced Chromosome Aberrations. I. The Effect of Irradiation Temperature

Summary

Irradiation temperature, changed from 37°C to 4°C, acts as a dose-modifying factor with regard to the dose-yield relationship for dicentric chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes irradiated with 150 kV X-rays. The temperature dependence of the aberration yield observed at constant dose is S-shaped, with a sharp rise near 15°C from a lower plateau below 12°C to a higher plateau beyond 17°C. The aberration yield is determined by the irradiation temperature, irrespective of fast temperature changes from 4°C to 37°C or from 37°C to 4°C, applied at various delay times before and after irradiation. It is concluded that irradiation temperature influences the formation of chromatin lesions rather than their interaction.

• chromosome aberrations
• temperature
• human lymphocytes