Environmental Health Perspectives 105, Supplement 6, December 1997

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Effect of Hormones on the Variation of Radiosensitivity in Females as Measured by Induction of Chromosomal Aberrations

C.J. Roberts,1 G.R. Morgan,1 and N. Danford2

1AEA Technology plc, Harwell Laboratory, Didcot, Oxon, United Kingdom; 2Microptic Cytogenetics Ltd, Innovation Centre, Singleton Park, Swansea, United Kingdom

Abstract
The frequency of dicentrics + ring (dic/cell) and total chromosome aberrations (dicentrics, rings and excess acentrics, etc.) per cell (TAb/cell) has been studied in 50 male and female volunteers after high or low dose rate (HDR, LDR) irradiation of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The mean male aberration frequencies per cell after HDR irradiation were 0.38 dic/cell and 0.61 TAb/cell; following LDR irradiation, the mean aberration frequencies were 0.28 dic/cell and 0.45 TAb/cell. Equivalent female values after HDR irradiation were 0.42 dic/cell and 0.71 TAb/cell; after LDR irradiation, the mean aberration frequencies were 0.30 dic/cell and 0.48 TAb/cell. Analysis of variance showed that there was a highly significant difference between males and females after HDR, but not LDR, irradiation. It is concluded from this study that females have a greater variability in their radioresponse, and that this variability is related to progesterone, which has a profound effect upon radiosensitivity, as measured by cytogenetic end points. -- Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 6):1467-1471 (1997)

Key words: radiosensitivity, hormones, progesterone, chromosomes, sensitization

This paper is based on a presentation at the International Conference on Radiation and Health held 3-7 November 1996 in Beer Sheva, Israel. Abstracts of these papers were previously published in Public Health Reviews 24(3-4):205-431 (1996). Manuscript received at EHP 20 January 1997; accepted 21 April 1997.

Address correspondence to Dr. C.J. Roberts, AEA Technology plc, Harwell Laboratory, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RA, UK. Telephone: 44 1235 434510. Fax: 44 1235 432997. E-mail: christopher.roberts@aeat.co.uk

Abbreviations used: ANOVA, analysis of variance; cGy/min, centi-grays per minute; dic, dicentrics plus rings with or without associated acentric fragments; FPG, fluoresence plus Giemsa; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; g/liter, grams per liter; Gy/min, grays per minute; HDR, high dose rate; IU/ml, international units per milliliter; LDR, low dose rate; mg/ml, milligrams per milliliter; pg/ml, picograms per milliliter; TAb, total chromosome aberrations (dicentrics plus rings with or without associated acentric fragments and excess acentrics).

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