Induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in G0 lymphocytes by plutonium-238 alpha-particles
S Z Aghamohammadi1, D T Goodhead, J R Savage
1Medical Research Council, Radiobiology Unit, Chilton, Didcot, U.K.
Abstract:
Irradiation of human G0 lymphocytes with plutonium-238 alpha-particles and X-rays was performed to investigate the production of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE). Alpha-particles produce a significant increase in SCE and this elevation is more significant when separated lymphocytes are irradiated. X-ray irradiation did not induce any significant increase in SCE. Therefore the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for the induction of SCE by alpha-particles in this system is undefined and effectively infinite.
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