Int. J. Radiat. Biol., 81, 741- 749
2005

The radiation sensitivity of human chromosomes 2, 8, and 14 in peripheral blood lymphocytes of seven donors.

S. Sommer, I. Buraczewska, M. Wojewodzka, E. Bouzyk, I. Szumiel, A. Wojcik

PURPOSE: To investigate if deviations from DNA-proportional distribution of radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations are individually variable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected from seven healthy donors and exposed to different doses of gamma rays. Chromosomes 2, 8 and 14 were painted in different colors and aberrations scored with the help of an image-analysis system. RESULTS: Chromosome 2 was generally less sensitive than expected on the basis of DNA-proportional distribution and the extent of inter-donor variability was minimal. A higher than expected frequency of aberrations was found in chromosome 14 of five donors, while a higher than expected frequency of aberrations was found in chromosome 8 of two donors. CONCLUSIONS: Inter-donor variability may explain some of the controversies regarding the inter-chromosomal distribution of radiation-induced aberrations.

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