Extension of in vitro life-span of gamma-irradiated human embryo cells accompanied by chromosome instability.

We studied the effect of repeated irradiation with a low dose rate (about 0.0012 cGy per min) of 60Co gamma-rays on the in vitro life-span of human embryo (HE) cells. HE cells were cultured in an incubator that was set in a 60Co gamma-ray-irradiation room, and the irradiation was repeated throughout the life-span of the HE cells (for about 150 to 160 days) on every day base. During this period, the cells accumulated 106 to 123 cGy. The life-span of the irradiated cells prolonged 1.14 to 1.35 times when compared to that of non-irradiated cells. The incidence of cells with chromosome bridge and micronuclei significantly increased in the irradiated cells. Although the number of chromosomes gradually changed with repetition of culture in both non-irradiated and irradiated cells, the frequencies of aneuploid cells in irradiated cells were about two times higher than that in non-irradiated cells. These results indicate that repeated irradiation with a low dose of gamma-rays produces chromosome instability, and it may be a cause of numerical chromosome abnormalities and life-span extension of irradiated cells.