Effect of X-irradiation and radiation modifiers on cellular ultrastructure

Ultrastructural changes produced in cultured cells after irradiation by X-rays reflect the temporal development of the original lesions. Alterations in membrane structures, especially the plasma and nuclear membranes, are documented, supporting the suggestion that membrane and membrane-DNA attachment sites are relevant to radiation-induced cell killing. Alterations produced by the radiosensitizer diamide and by anisotonic salt treatments were also observed. Diamide, at 0.4 to 0.6 mmol/L, rapidly decreased the active uptake of K+ ions at the plasma membrane and produced clear, organelle-free regions of cytoplasm and distorted nuclei. Anisotonic NaCl treatment of mitotic cells swells chromosomes under both hypo- and hypertonic conditions, leaving the chromatin open to free-radical attack. In interphase, the cell is drastically shrunken during the first few minutes of hypertonic (1.5 mol/L NaCl) salt treatment, after which breaks and localized blebs appear at the plasma membrane, while the nucleus swells, leaving the chromatin in an open state. This process occurs more quickly at 37 degrees C than at room temperature (22 degrees C) and correlates with the relative radiosensitivity of cells treated at these temperatures.