Application of conventional and FPG staining for the analysis of chromosome aberrations induced by low levels of dose in human lymphocytes.

Human peripheral lymphocytes were irradiated with 0.05-0.5 Gy of 220 keV X-rays. After application of either a conventional or the fluorescence plus Giemsa (FPG) staining technique, the dose response for dicentrics and acentrics was studied. The analysis of exclusively first-division cells (M1), carried out by the FPG method, revealed significantly higher aberration yields as compared with the results of the conventional method. The data from M1 cells support the assumption of a linear dose response for both dicentrics and acentrics. The results are discussed with regard to the application of chromosome analyses for a cytogenetic dosimetry after exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation.