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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Measuring DNA Damage and Repair in Mouse Splenocytes After Chronic In Vivo Exposure to Very Low Doses of Beta- and Gamma-Radiation
Published on: July 3, 2015
Thiamine prevents X-ray induction of genetic changes in human lymphocytes in vitro
Maria Konopacka1, Jacek Rogoliński
1Department of Experimental and Clinical Radiobiology, Institute of Oncology, Gliwice, Poland. m_konopacka@pf.pl
Abstract:
The effects of thiamine (vitamin B1) on the level of spontaneous or radiation-induced genetic changes in human lymphocytes in vitro were studied. Cultured lymphocytes were exposed to increasing concentrations of thiamine (0-500 microg/ml) and irradiated with X-rays. The DNA damage was estimated as the frequency of micronuclei and apoptotic or necrotic morphological changes in fixed cells. The results show that thiamine alone did not induce genetic changes. A significant decrease in the fraction of apoptotic and necrotic cells was observed in lymphocytes irradiated in the presence of vitamin B1 at concentrations between 1-100 microg/ml compared to those irradiated in the absence of thiamine. Vitamin B1 at 1 and 10 microg/ml decreased also the extent of radiation-induced formation of micronuclei. Vitamin B1 had no effect on radiation-induced cytotoxicity as measured by nuclear division index. The results indicate that vitamin B1 protects human cells from radiation-induced genetic changes.
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