Micronuclei in X-irradiated human lymphocytes.

The dose-effect relationship of the frequency of micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked human lymphocytes after in vitro irradiation of whole blood in the range from 0.2 to 4 Gy was studied. The linear-quadratic response obtained offers a useful technique for dose assessments in cases of radiation injuries above approx. 0.1 Gy whole body dose. The distribution in size of micronuclei in cytochalasin B treated cells ranges to larger diameters than in mononuclear lymphoblasts.