NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Effects of alpha-particles on survival and chromosomal aberrations in human mammary epithelial cellsWe have studied the radiation responses of a human mammary epithelial cell line, H184B5 F5-1 M/10. This cell line was derived from primary mammary cells after treatment with chemicals and heavy ions. The F5-1 M/10 cells are immortal, density-inhibited in growth, and non-tumorigenic in athymic nude mice and represent an in vitro model of the human epithelium for radiation studies. Because epithelial cells are the target of alpha-particles emitted from radon daughters, we concentrated our studies on the efficiency of alpha-particles. Confluent cultures of M/10 cells were exposed to accelerated alpha-particles [beam energy incident at the cell monolayer = 3.85 MeV, incident linear energy transfer (LET) in cell = 109 keV/microns] and, for comparison, to 80 kVp x-rays. The following endpoints were studied: (1) survival, (2) chromosome aberrations at the first postirradiation mitosis, and (3) chromosome alterations at later passages following irradiation. The survival curve was exponential for alpha-particles (D0 = 0.73 +/- 0.04 Gy), while a shoulder was observed for x-rays (alpha/beta = 2.9 Gy; D0 = 2.5 Gy, extrapolation number 1.6). The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of high-LET alpha-particles for human epithelial cell killing was 3.3 at 37% survival. Dose-response curves for the induction of chromosome aberrations were linear for alpha-particles and linearquadratic for x-rays. The RBE for the induction of chromosome aberrations varied with the type of aberration scored and was high (about 5) for chromosome breaks and low (about 2) for chromosome exchanges.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS).
Document ID
20050000162
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Durante, M.
(Universita di Napoli Federico II Italy)
Grossi, G. F.
Gialanella, G.
Pugliese, M.
Nappo, M.
Yang, T. C.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: Radiation and environmental biophysics
Volume: 34
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0301-634X
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Center JSC
NASA Discipline Radiation Health

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available