BIOSYNTHETIC LABELING WITH P-32 - RADIATION-DAMAGE TO MAMMALIAN-CELLS

Abstract

Theoretical calculations showed that biosynthetic radiolabeling of cells using typical concentrations of 32P (1 mCi/ml) resulted in high radiation doses (200-500 rad/h) being absorbed by the cells. Subsequent investigations with a mouse myelomonocytic leukemia cell line (WEHI-3B(D+)) showed significant loss of replicative ability during brief (less than 1 h) exposures to 1 mCi/ml of 32P. Complete loss of cell replicative ability was found with isotopic doses less than 100 rad (i.e., 100 muCi/ml for 5 h). Experiments employing a less radiosensitive pre-B-cell line (18.81) revealed that significant loss of viability occurred during incubation with 32P under identical conditions to those employ..