Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis ›› 2021, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (3): 193-196.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-616x.2021.03.006

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Use of the micronucleus assay to estimate partial radiation exposure dose in vitro

LU Xue, TIAN Xuelei, ZHAO Hua, CAI Tianjing, TIAN Mei, LIU Qingjie   

  1. China CDC Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100088, China
  • Received:2020-12-14 Revised:2021-03-09 Online:2021-05-30 Published:2021-06-09

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of using the micronucleus assay in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro to estimate partial irradiation exposure dose. METHODS: Two human peripheral blood samples were collected and each was divided into 2 parts. One part was not exposed to radiation. The other part was divided further into 2 groups. Therefore,there were a total of 4 groups which were irradiated with 1 and 5 Gy 60Co γ rays, respectively, at the dose rate of 1 Gy/min. Subsequently, irradiated blood samples were mixed with non-irradiated ones with ratios of 1∶3 or 3∶1 to simulate partial exposure. These mixed samples were analyzed using the micronucleus (MN) assay. The MN frequencies were used to estimate exposure doses using the Dolphin's model as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),and to determine dose-effect curves as recommended by health industry standards. RESULTS: The observed MN frequencies did not conform to poisson distribution. In addition,the estimated partial dose from the 1 Gy groups deviated from the actual dose,and the estimated partial dose from the 5 Gy groups were close to the actual dose. CONCLUSION: MN can be used to estimate partial exposure doses in vitro. However,the estimates are more reliable for higher partial dose exposure.

Key words: partial exposure, lymphocyte micronucleus, simulation in vitro, Dolphin's model, ionizing radiation

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