[The role of cell interaction in initiation of radiation-induced death of thymocytes and apoptosis].

The experimental evidence of crucial importance of cell interactions for initiation of radiation-induced thymocyte death was obtained. It has been proposed that ionizing radiation, in contrast to many other cytotoxic agents, initiates thymocyte death simultaneously by different independent pathways, affecting all cellular components. The concept of apoptosis as "programmed cell death" has been critically discussed.