[Double-stranded DNA breaks and inactivation of mammalian cells in relation to the LET of the radiation--comparison between experiment and theory].

In experiments on Chinese hamster cells the survival curves and the yield of double-strand DNA breaks were determined after irradiation at different LET. The comparison of the experimental results and the survival curves calculated on the basis of Günter-Schultz's theory of radiation inactivation of cells has demonstrated that radiation-induced double-strand DNA breaks are responsible for the lethal effect of radiation on cells.