The DNA content of some mammalian cells measured by flow cytometry and its influence on radiation sensitivity

Int J Radiat Biol. 1990 Jun;57(6):1183-93. doi: 10.1080/09553009014551281.

Abstract

The DNA content of nine mammalian cell lines was determined by flow cytometry. Using radiobiological data from this and other laboratories a correlation between DNA mass and 1/D0 for X-rays, alpha-particles, and heavy ions could be established when the quantities were plotted on a log-log scale. The slopes of the regression lines amounted to 0.65 (X-rays), 0.64 (alpha-particles) and 0.74 (heavy ions). A similar correlation was found between DNA content and mean inactivation dose. The rather uniform slopes close to 2/3 suggest that radiosensitivity may depend on the surface area of the sensitive target, (cell nucleus) indicating a possible non-uniform distribution of radiosensitive sites within the nucleus.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Alpha Particles
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects
  • Cricetinae
  • DNA / analysis*
  • DNA, Neoplasm / analysis
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Ions
  • Mice
  • Radiation Tolerance*

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Ions
  • DNA