[Sedimentation of nucleoids from rat thymus and spleen cells following whole-body irradiation].

The sedimentation of nucleoids from thymic and splenic cells of rats was tested following total-body X-irradiation (TBI) with doses ranging from 24 to 1520 cGy. The principal results may be summarized as follows: 1) The nucleoid sedimentation of the cells was reduced immediately after TBI with doses of greater than or equal to 760 cGy. In the following postirradiation period, an enhancement of sedimentation rate has been observed which could be neutralized by addition of proteinase K to the nucleoid preparation. 2) When nucleoids were prepared 6 h after TBI with doses greater than or equal to 190 cGy, beside the main nucleoid band a smaller nucleoid fraction appeared in the ethidium bromide containing saccharose gradient. This fraction was of less sedimentability than the main nucleoid peak and could not be distinguished from pure, high molecular DNA. From the present results it is suggested that the reduction of the nucleoid sedimentation immediately following high doses of TBI is the result of primary (non-repaired) DNA lesions whereas the changes detectable some hours later are due to the secondary enzymatic changes connected with the interphase death of the cells. With respect to the detection of in vivo effects of X-irradiation, the nucleoid sedimentation has to be regarded much less sensitive than some biochemical and/or cytomorphological methods.