Radiation biophysics at the Gran Sasso laboratory: influence of a low background radiation environment on the adaptive response of living cells

Mammalian cells were cultured in parallel at the Istituto Superiors di Sani ta', in the presence of standard radiation background, and at the INFN-Gran Sasso underground Laboratory, exposed to low radiation background. Both cu ltures were grown for up to six months and periodically tested to check for the onset of metabolic changes and different, sensitivity to genotoxic dam age caused by ionizing and UV radiation, as well as by chemical agents. The se tests include measurements of enzyme activities protecting from oxidativ e cell damage, induction of apoptosis and mutation.