A. Cebulska-wasilewska et al., Efficiency of a Cf-252 source in normal or in B-10 enriched lymphocytes evaluated by SCGE assay, classical cytogenetics and FISH technique, NUKLEONIKA, 46(2), 2001, pp. 41-49
Biological effectiveness of a californium-252 source was evaluated after ir
radiations in vitro of normal or pretreated cells with compound enriched in
the B-10 ion ((Na2B12H11SH)-B-10 also known as BSH) in order to check the
possibility of any enhancement effect due to the process of boron neutron c
apture. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were used as a model for human cells.
Human blood samples or isolated lymphocytes were irradiated with the isotop
ic source of Cf-252, at the Faculty of Physics and Nuclear Techniques at th
e University of Mining and Metallurgy, Krakow (both the neutron source and
the samples were placed in an "infinite" polyethylene block). DNA and chrom
osomal damage were studied to compare the biological effectiveness of irrad
iation. Single cell gel electrophoresis also known as the Comet assay was d
one to investigate the DNA damage. Classical cytogenetic analysis was appli
ed to assess the frequencies of unstable aberrations (dicentrics, rings and
acentric fragments). To evaluate the frequencies of stable aberrations the
fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) with probes for chromosomes 1, 4
(14.3% of the whole genome) was performed. Linear (or close to linear) inc
reases with radiation doses were observed for the DNA damage and aberration
frequencies in lymphocytes both untreated or pretreated with BSH. Levels o
f translocations evaluated for the whole genome were comparable with the fr
equencies of dicentrics and rings. No significant differences were detected
due to radiation dose in the frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges (SC
E) detected in the second mitosis. Statistically no significant differences
were observed in various biological end-points between normal or boron pre
-treated cells.