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Radiation-induced chromosomal instability in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice: the difference is as clear as black and whiteGenomic instability has been proposed to be the earliest step in radiation-induced tumorigenesis. It follows from this hypothesis that individuals highly susceptible to induction of tumors by radiation should exhibit enhanced radiation-induced instability. BALB/c white mice are considerably more sensitive to radiation-induced mammary cancer than C57BL/6 black mice. In this study, primary mammary epithelial cell cultures from these two strains were examined for the "delayed" appearance of chromosomal aberrations after exposure to 137Cs gamma radiation, as a measure of radiation-induced genomic instability. As expected, actively dividing cultures from both strains showed a rapid decline of initial asymmetrical aberrations with time postirradiation. However, after 16 population doublings, cells from BALB/c mice exhibited a marked increase in the frequency of chromatid-type breaks and gaps which remained elevated throughout the time course of the experiment (28 doublings). No such effect was observed for the cells of C57BL/6 mice; after the rapid clearance of initial aberrations, the frequency of chromatid-type aberrations in the irradiated population remained at or near those of nonirradiated controls. These results demonstrate a correlation between the latent expression of chromosomal damage in vitro and susceptibility for mammary tumors, and provide further support for the central role of radiation-induced instability in the process of tumorigenesis.
Document ID
20040173044
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Ponnaiya, B.
(The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston 77555-0656 United States)
Cornforth, M. N.
Ullrich, R. L.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Radiation research
Volume: 147
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0033-7587
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: R01 CA43322
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Radiation Health
Non-NASA Center

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