Fractionated low-level gamma irradiation of Chinese Hamster cells: cellular and biochemical effects.

Chinese hamster V79 cells in log-phase were exposed daily to 0.6 Gy of gamma radiation for 3-6 months. After such an exposure the population doubling time increased from 10 to 15 h. When irradiation was discontinued doubling time gradually decreased. Cell survival following acute radiation dose of the low-level irradiated cells remained the same as that of untreated cells. The fractionated irradiation did not affect the capacity of the cells to perform DNA repair synthesis. Likewise, the sensitivity to inhibition by acute radiation exposure of the ability to induce ornithine decarboxylase activity was similar in cells exposed to fractionated irradiation and in untreated cells. It is concluded that there is no apparent effect of sublethal radiation dose received in one generation on the radiation sensitivity of the succeeding generations during the log-phase of growth.