[Induction of chromosome anomalies in rabbit lymphocytes by weak doses of X-rays and neutrons]

The induction of dicentric aberrations has been studied in rabbit lymphocytes after exposure to low doses of X-rays or d(50) + Be neutrons. The aberrations have been analysed in first division cells collected after a 32 h culture time. In both cases, the dose response relationship is best fitted to a linear-quadratic model. Rabbit lymphocytes are less radiosensitive than human lymphocytes and RBE is lower in rabbit than in human cells. These discrepancies could be due to differences in the repair capacities for the lesions induced by X-rays and neutrons in rabbit and human lymphocytes.