[DNA repair in mammalian nerve cells. II. DNA synthesis in neurons, induced by gamma-irradiation of isolated rat neocortex slices].

DNA synthesis was studied in the neocortex neurons of 0-, 14- and 60-day old rats after gamma-irradiation in vitro of isolated slices of the neocortex on determining 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA. Gamma-irradiation (20 Grays) increases levels of DNA synthesis for all the age groups of animals examined. The induced DNA synthesis in neurons of newborn rats is higher than that in 14- and 60-day old animals. Specificity of DNA synthesis in the process of nerve cell differentiation is discussed.