THE EFFECT OF LOW-DOSE IRRADIATION ON PROLIFERATION OF MAMMALIAN-CELLS IN-VITRO

The effect of low doses of gamma radiation on proliferation of Raji ly mphoma cells and Chinese hamster fibroblasts in vitro has been investi gated. It is shown that irradiation in the dose range between 2 and 20 cGy (maximum at 10 cGy) stimulates growth of cultured cells due to th e shortening of the lag phase of cell growth, with the duration of the doubling time being unchanged, Preirradiation of growth medium in thi s dose range also stimulates cell proliferation, though to a lesser ex tent than irradiation of cells and the medium does, The stimulatory ef fect manifests itself in an increase in the cell number as well as in the size and number of colonies. (C) 1996 by Radiation Research Societ y