Characterization of hydroxyl radical-induced damage after sparsely and densely ionizing irradiation

The extent of hydroxyl radical mediated cell inactivation was measured for a variety of particle beams ranging from 8.5 Me V/u neon ions to 570 Me V/u argon ions. In general, the fraction of the total radiosensitivity caused by OH decreases from close to 60 per cent at low ionization density or low linear energy transfer (low LET) to close to 25 per cent at high LET for aerobically irradiated mammalian cells. The extent of OH induced cell lethality can be explained in terms of LET infinity only for low energy or low atomic number particles where fragmentations and complicated track structures do not contaminate the characteristic particle LET. For example, at a calculated LET infinity of 100 ke V/micron, the OH mediated fraction of the total radiation damage is about 25 per cent for low energy carbon but close to 40 per cent for high energy carbon ions. For low energy charged nuclei of approximately the same energy, as the 5.4-13.4 MeV/u He, Li, C and Ne ions in this report, there is a predictable diminution of the OH mediated effect with increasing LET infinity; however, the biological effect cannot be predicted accurately from calculated LET infinity values for high energy particle irradiation, nor indeed from a variety of low energy charged particles of quite different energies (incident velocities). This illustrates the unsuitability of using LET as a unifying parameter, except under specific circumstances. As more is learned about the energy deposition for energized charged particles in terms of track structure (core and penumbra), it may be possible to characterize the radiobiological data with a better physical parameter than LET infinity.     

Response of colony-forming units-spleen to heavy charged particles

Survival of colony-forming units-spleen (CFU-S) was measured after single doses of photons or heavy charged particles from the BEVALAC. The purposes were to define the radiosensitivity to heavy ions used medically and to evaluate relationships between relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and dose-averaged linear energy transfer (LET infinity). In in vitro irradiation experiments. CFU-S suspensions were exposed to 220 kVp X rays or to 20Ne (372 MeV/micron) or 40Ar (447 MeV/micron) particles in the plateau portion of the Bragg curve. In in vivo irradiation experiments, donor mice from which CFU-S were harvested were exposed to 12C (400 MeV/micron). 20Ne (400 or 670 MeV/micron), or 40Ar (570 MeV/micron) particles in Bragg peaks spread to 4 or 10 cm by spiral ridge filters. Based on RBE at 10 survival, the maximum RBE of 2.1 was observed for 40Ar particles characterized by an LET infinity of approximately 100 keV/micron. Lower RBEs were determined at lower or higher estimated values of LET infinity and ranged from 1.1 for low energy 40Ar particles to 1.5-1.6 for low energy 12C and 20Ne. The responses of CFU-S are compared with responses of other model systems to heavy charged particles and with the reported sensitivity of CFU-S to neutrons of various energies. The maximum RBE reported here, 2.1 for high energy 40Ar particles, is somewhat lower than values reported for fission-spectrum neutrons, and is appreciably lower than values for monoenergetic 0.43-1.8 MeV neutrons. Low energy 12C and 20Ne particles have RBEs in the range of values reported for 14.7 MeV neutrons.     

Effect of accelerated iron ions on the retina

The eyes of rats were exposed to doses of 0.1 and 2.5 Gy of 450-MeV/amu 56Fe particles (LET approximately 195 keV/microns). The beam axes were oriented perpendicular to the central retina of the animals. Retinas were harvested immediately (less than 10 min), 24 h, 15 days, 136 days, and 186 days after the experiment. The retinas of animals of equivalent ages were sampled at the same intervals. By Day 15, the spatial densities of the pigment epithelial, photoreceptor, and bipolar cells in retinas irradiated with 2.5 Gy were 15 to 20% lower than those of the controls. The cellular density of the pigment epithelium returned to the control level by Day 186 while photoreceptor and bipolar cell numbers remained depressed. One and fifteen days after irradiation, the choroidal vessels showed signs of radiation damage. Exposure to 0.1 Gy did not affect the cellular density within the retina at the interval examined (186 days). None of the retinas showed evidence of track-specific injury that could be interpreted as microlesions or tunnel lesions.     

532 nm波段连续激光对视网膜和脉络膜生物学作用的观察

目的：探讨532nm波段激光不同光剂量参数对眼底组织的损伤特点及损伤阈值。方法：以新西兰兔为实验对象,532nm连续激光照射眼底,眼底光斑直径1．5mm～2．5mm,功率密度从500mW／cm^2：～2400mW／cm^2,照射时间100s～300s,每组参数10个光斑。在照射后1h和24h进行眼底观察和荧光眼底造影,计算三种照射时间情况下视网膜的损伤阈值。结果：在照射后第1h,功率密度为902mW／crn2,照射时间300s开始出现视网膜灰色改变,病灶范围接近照光面积,在24h后颜色微加重。随着照光剂量的增加,在功率密度达1479mW／cm2,照射时间300s,照射后1h出现视网膜灰白色改变,在24h后出现脉络膜出血;而且随着照光剂量的增加,病灶范围扩大越明显。出血量越多。随着照光剂量的减少,当功率密度1003mW／cm^2,照射时间200s时,在照光后1h眼底没有改变,24h出现视网膜灰白色改变,面积接近照光面积;光剂量降低到1002mW／cm^2,照射时间100s时,在24h才出现视网膜灰白色改变,变化的视网膜范围小于照光面积。统计学计算在照射时间为300s、200s和100s,照光后1h视网膜损伤阈值分别为911．15628mW／cm^2,1167．64770mW／cm^2,1513．89832mW／cm^2,24h视网膜损伤阈值分别为827．09664mW／cm^2。1003．73143mW／cm^2,1154．17863mW／cm^2。结论：在光线照射后24h之内,视网膜损伤是一个逐渐增强的过程。从视网膜没有明显可见改变到视网膜出现灰白色可见损伤,变化范围从小于照光面积到接近照光面积,甚至超过照光面积,并出现脉络膜出血,出血面积随着照光剂量的增加而范围变大。相同能量密度的光剂量对视网膜损伤轻重取决于激光的功率密度。     

High yields of isochromatid breaks and successive formation of chromosome exchanges may lead to reproductive cell death following high-LET irradiation

To clarify the relationship between cell death and chromosomal aberrations following exposure to heavy-charged ion particles beams, exponentially growing Human Salivary Gland Tumor cells (HSG cells) were irradiated with various kinds of high energy heavy ions; 13 keV/μm carbon ions as a low-LET charged particle radiation source, 120 keV/μm carbon ions and 440 keV/μm iron ions as high-LET charged particle radiation sources. X-rays (200 kVp) were used as a reference. Reproductive cell death was evaluated by clonogenic assays, and the chromatid aberrations in G2/M phase and their repairing kinetics were analyzed by the calyculin A induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC) method. High-LET heavy-ion beams introduced much more severe and un-repairable chromatid breaks and isochromatid breaks in HSG cells than low-LET irradiation. In addition, the continuous increase of exchange aberrations after irradiation occurred in the high-LET irradiated cells. The cell death, initial production of isochromatid breaks and subsequent formation of chromosome exchange seemed to be depend similarly on LET with a maximum RBE peak around 100–200 keV/μm of LET value. Conversely, un-rejoined isochromatid breaks or chromatid breaks/gaps seemed to be less effective in reproductive cell death. These results suggest that the continuous yield of chromosome exchange aberrations induced by high-LET ionizing particles is a possible reason for the high RBE for cell death following high-LET irradiation, alongside other chromosomal aberrations additively or synergistically.     

Heavy ion effects on cellular DNA: strand break induction and repair in cultured diploid lens epithelial cells

The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for the induction of DNA strand breaks and the efficiency of repair of these breaks in cultured diploid bovine lens epithelial cells was measured, using accelerated heavy ions in the linear energy transfer (LET)-range up to 16,200 keV/micron. At LET values above 800 keV/micron, the number of DNA strand breaks induced per particle increases both with the atomic number of the projectile and with its kinetic energy. About 90 per cent or more of the strand breaks induced by ions with an LET of less than 10,000 keV/micron are repaired within 24 h. Repair kinetics show a dependence on the particle fluence (irradiation dose). At higher particle fluences a higher proportion of non-rejoined breaks is found, even after prolonged periods of incubation. At any LET value, repair is much slower after heavy-ion exposure than after X-irradiation. This is especially true for low energetic particles with a very high local density of energy deposition within the particle track. At the highest LET value (16,200 keV/micron), no significant repair is observed.     

Heterogeneity of Glia in the Retina and Optic Nerve of Birds and Mammals

We have recently described a novel type of glial cell that is scattered across the inner layers of the avian retina [1]. These cells are stimulated by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) to proliferate, migrate distally into the retina, and up-regulate the nestin-related intermediate filament transitin. These changes in glial activity correspond with increased susceptibility of neurons to excitotoxic damage. This novel cell-type has been termed the Non-astrocytic Inner Retinal Glia-like (NIRG) cells. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the retinas of non-avian species contain cells that resemble NIRG cells. We assayed for NIRG cells by probing for the expression of Sox2, Sox9, Nkx2.2, vimentin and nestin. NIRG cells were distinguished from astrocytes by a lack of expression for Glial Fibrilliary Acidic Protein (GFAP). We examined the retinas of adult mice, guinea pigs, dogs and monkeys (Macaca fasicularis). In the mouse retina and optic nerve head, we identified numerous astrocytes that expressed GFAP, S100β, Sox2 and Sox9; however, we found no evidence for NIRG-like cells that were positive for Nkx2.2, nestin, and negative for GFAP. In the guinea pig retina, we did not find astrocytes or NIRG cells in the retina, whereas we identified astrocytes in the optic nerve. In the eyes of dogs and monkeys, we found astrocytes and NIRG-like cells scattered across inner layers of the retina and within the optic nerve. We conclude that NIRG-like cells are present in the retinas of canines and non-human primates, whereas the retinas of mice and guinea pigs do not contain NIRG cells.     

Experimental aspects of in vitro and in vivo photochemotherapy

The selectivity of in vitro photodynamic reactions and the in vivo effects induced by PRT, whether the irradiation is applied interstitially or externally, still remains unclear. In vitro studies were performed using leukemic cell lines and syngeneic normal hemopoietic progenitors. For these, cells incubated with hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) and non-incubated cells were irradiated with an argon laser. Data were obtained as the count of cell colonies found after a 7-day incubation period on semi-solid collagen gel medium. In vivo studies employed the HT 29 tumor model grafted into nude mice. Both animals injected with HPD and non-infected controls were irradiated with a dye laser pumped by an argon laser (Coherent) using a 400 micron optic fiber located either at a distance of 65 mm from the skin or inserted into the tumor. The temperature increase occurring during PRT was measured using non-absorbing thermocouples. In vitro, after HPD treatment and argon irradiation leukemic cells showed a greater phototoxicity (greater than 2 log10) than did the normal cells (0.25 log10). In vivo, when the heat rise is very similar (less than 4 degrees C) in both the tissues irradiated externally and those irradiated interstitially after HPD injection, histological examination of these did not reveal any quantitative differences (90% of tumor mass). These results are discussed.     

LET dependence of lethality in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis> irradiated by heavy ions

To clarify the effect of heavy ions in plants, dry seeds of Arabidopsis were irradiated with carbon, neon, and argon ions with various linear energy transfer (LET) values. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for lethality peaked at LET values over 350 keV/microns for neon and argon ions. This LET giving the peak RBE was higher than the LET of 100-200 keV/microns which was reported to have a maximum RBE for other types of cells, such as mammalian cells. Furthermore, sterility showed a higher RBE at an LET of 354 keV/microns with neon ions than that at an LET of 113 keV/microns with carbon ions. Lethality and sterility are both considered to be caused by damage to DNA. The results indicate that the LET having a maximum of RBE for lethality is higher in Arabidopsis seeds than in other unicellular systems. The most likely explanation for this shift of LET is that the DNA in dry seeds has a different chemical environment and/or hydration state than the DNA in cells in culture.     

Quantitative measurement of damage caused by 1064-nm wavelength optical trapping of Escherichia coli cells using on-chip single cell cultivation system

We quantitatively examined the possible damage to the growth and cell division ability of Escherichia coli caused by 1064-nm optical trapping. Using the synchronous behavior of two sister E. coli cells, the growth and interdivision times between those two cells, one of which was trapped by optical tweezers, the other was not irradiated, were compared using an on-chip single cell cultivation system. Cell growth stopped during the optical trapping period, even with the smallest irradiated power on the trapped cells. Moreover, the damage to the cell's growth and interdivision period was proportional to the total irradiated energy (work) on the cell, i.e., irradiation time multiplied by irradiation power. The division ability was more easily affected by a smaller energy, 0.36 J, which was 30% smaller than the energy that adversely affected growth, 0.54 J. The results indicate that the damage caused by optical trapping can be estimated from the total energy applied to cells, and furthermore, that the use of optical trapping for manipulating cells might cause damage to cell division and growth mechanisms, even at wavelengths under 1064 nm, if the total irradiation energy is excessive.     

Cisplatin enhances the cytotoxicity of fast neutrons in a murine lymphoma cell line

The utilization of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiations, such as fast neutrons or carbon ions (hadrontherapy), offers promising perspectives in radiotherapy. While it is well known that by combining radiotherapy and chemotherapy, important therapeutic advantages can be obtained to cure cancer, there have been, so far, very few investigations on the effects of treatments combining an irradiation with high-LET particles and cancer drugs. The present study was therefore undertaken to examine the effects of exposure to 65 MeV fast neutrons combined with cisplatin in a murine T cell lymphoma (RDM4) in vitro. The cells were irradiated at doses ranging from 2 to 8 Gy without or with addition of cisplatin shortly before the irradiation, at concentrations between 0.3 and 12.5 micro M. These treatments were applied concomitantly. Proliferation and apoptosis were assessed at different time intervals thereafter. The combination of irradiation with cisplatin was found to be more cytotoxic than either treatment alone. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity induced by this cotreatment resulted not only from apoptosis but also from other forms of cell death.     

Glial fibrillary acidic protein and its mRNA: ultrastructural detection and determination of changes after CNS injury.

We have previously demonstrated that glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) containing intermediate filaments in retinal Müller cells undergo both quantitative induction and subcellular reorganization as a response to long-term retinal detachment (an induced CNS degeneration wherein the Müller cells form a multicellular scar). This study demonstrates by RNA blotting analysis that normal retina expresses a low basal level of GFAP mRNA, which is induced approximately 500% within 3 days of retinal detachment. At the cellular level, electron microscopic in situ hybridization analysis readily detects GFAP mRNA in Müller cells of detached retinas, but not in normal retinas. On the other hand, GFAP mRNA was readily detected in retinal astrocytes (which appear to express GFAP mRNA at high, constitutive levels). In both cell types, the ultrastructural localization of GFAP mRNA was the same. In the nuclei, the GFAP mRNA was associated with amorphous, electron-dense regions within the euchromatin. In the cytoplasm, the GFAP mRNA was associated with intermediate filaments near the nuclear pores, along the filaments when no other structures were apparent, and when the filaments appeared to be associated with ribosomes and polysomes. The ultrastructural location of the GFAP mRNA (especially along the intermediate filaments) may be unique to this mRNA or may represent a more generalized mRNA phenomenon.     

The external limiting membrane in developing normal and dysplastic canine retina

Development of the external limiting membrane of the retina in English springer spaniel fetuses and neonates with incipient stages of retinal dysplasia and in normal mongrel fetuses and neonates was examined using transmission electron microscopy and the freeze-fracture technique. The external limiting membrane of the retina of normal canine fetuses was composed of zonulae adherentes in which there were focal areas of apparent apposition between adjacent ventricular cell membranes. Freeze-fracture examination revealed gap junctions within the external limiting membrane that were composed of 8-10 nm P-face particles in aggregates of variable size and shape. These junctions corresponded to areas of focal membrane apposition. Tight junction strands were also identified in deep E-face grooves which were located perpendicular to the external limiting membrane. At day 46 of gestation in incipiently dysplastic English springer spaniel fetal eyes, there was a marked decrease in the size and area occupied by gap junctions within the external limiting membrane as compared with retinas of mongrel control fetuses at the same age and of other age groups. This apparent loss of gap junctions, coincident with the incipient onset of histologically detectable dysplastic events in the sensory retina, may contribute to the morphogenesis of the defect.     

Glycogen metabolism in the rat retina

It has been reported that glycogen levels in retina vary with retinal vascularization. However, the electrical activity of isolated retina depends on glucose supply, suggesting that it does not contain energetic reserves. We determined glycogen levels and pyruvate and lactate production under various conditions in isolated retina. Ex vivo retinas from light- and dark-adapted rats showed values of 44 +/- 0.3 and 19.5 +/- 0.4 nmol glucosyl residues/mg protein, respectively. The glycogen content of retinas from light-adapted animals was reduced by 50% when they were transferred to darkness. Glycogen levels were low in retinas incubated in glucose-free media and increased in the presence of glucose. The highest glycogen values were found in media containing 20 mm of glucose. A rapid increase in lactate production was observed in the presence of glucose. Surprisingly, glycogen levels were the lowest and lactate production was also very low in the presence of 30 mm glucose. Our results suggest that glycogen can be used as an immediate accessible energy reserve in retina. We speculate on the possibility that gluconeogenesis may play a protective role by removal of lactic acid.     

Irradiation of mammalian cultured cells with a collimated heavy-ion microbeam

As the first step for the analysis of the biological effect of heavy charged-particle radiation, we established a method for the irradiation of individual cells with a heavy-ion microbeam apparatus at JAERI-Takasaki. CHO-K1 cells attached on a thin film of an ion track detector, CR-39, were automatically detected under a fluorescence microscope and irradiated individually with an 40Ar13+ ion (11.5 MeV/nucleon, LET 1260 keV/microm) microbeam. Without killing the irradiated cells, trajectories of irradiated ions were visualized as etch pits by treatment of the CR-39 with an alkaline-ethanol solution at 37 degrees C. The exact positions of ion hits were determined by overlaying images of both cells and etch pits. The cells that were irradiated with argon ions showed a reduced growth in postirradiation observations. Moreover, a single hit of an argon ion to the cell nucleus resulted in strong growth inhibition. These results tell us that our verified irradiation method enables us to start a precise study of the effects of high-LET radiation on cells.     

Circadian photoreception in the retinally degenerate mouse (rd/rd)

Summary We have examined the effects of light on circadian locomotor rhythms in retinally degenerate mice (C57BL/6J mice homozygous for the rd allele: rd/rd). The sensitivity of circadian photoreception in these mice was determined by varying the irradiance of a 15 min light pulse (515 nm) given at circadian time 16 and meauring the magnitude of the phase shift of the locomotor rhythm. Experiments were performed on animals 80 days of age. Despite the loss of visual photoreceptors in the rd/rd retina, animals showed circadian responses to light that were indistinguishable from mice with normal retinas (rd/+ and +/+).While no photoreceptor outersegments were identified in the retina of rd/rd animals (80–100 days of age), we did identify a small number of perikarya that were immunoreactive for cone opsins, and even fewer cells that contained rod opsin. Using HPLC, we demonstrated the presence and photoisomerization of the rhodopsin chromophore 11-cis retinaldehyde. The rd/rd retinas contained about 2% of 11-cis retinaldehyde found in +/+ retinas. We have yet to determine whether the opsin immunoreactive perikarya or some other unidentified cell type mediate circadian light detection in the rd/rd retina.Abbreviations HPLC high-performance liquid chromatographyy     

Swelling of the Müller fibers in the chicken retina

A high potassium concentration (33 meq) in the solution superfusing the isolated chicken retina causes an increase in the tissue transparency. An L-glutamate (1 mM) or L-proline (10 mM) solution has the same effect. Swelling of the Müller fibers, which have a radial position in the retina, could explain the transparency increase. This possibility was investigated in electron micrographs of retinas subjected to these treatments and fixed by freeze-substitution to preserve the water distribution in the tissue. The Müller fibers in the controls had a mean diameter of 0.22 micrometer. The fibers in retinas bathed for 2 min in the high [K+] solution were more than three times as thick (0.74 micrometer); the fibers in glutamate-treated retinas were more than twice as thick (0.49 micrometer). The fibers in the proline-treated retinas had a diameter of 0.39 micrometer. The glutamate- and proline-induced swelling may be due to a K+ release from neuronal elements, acting on the Müller fibers. The fiber swelling was postulated to be the expression of different Donnan equilibriums of fibers bathed in solutions of different K+ concentrations. The observed swelling caused by the high [K+] solution was compared with the theoretical swelling of the fiber as an ideal Donnan system, postulating permeabilities for different ions of the fiber membrane. This suggested that the high [K+] solution causes an increase in Na+ permeability in addition to the permeability of the membrane for K+, Cl-, and HCO3-. Chemical fixation with glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde in an Na-phosphate buffer yielded micrographs in which the Müller fibers of retinas treated with a high [K+] or a glutamate solution had diameters similar to those of the control preparations.     

Comparative morphological studies of yeast cells using automated image analysis

The ultrastructural alterations in cells of Candida utilis caused by the influence of copper ions have been studied by means of quantitative image analysis. A model has been proposed which presents the following informations: The main effect of the copper ions is represented by an increase of the volume of the whole cell and of that part of the cell which consists of nucleus, vacuoles, and inclusions (particles and globules). Nevertheless, neither the absolute volume of mitochondria, nor the density of mitochondria are influenced by high concentrations of copper ions in the culture medium.     

低能离子在植物样品中长程穿透行为的研究

采用透射法测量了一定厚度的植物样品在接受低能离子辐照时从其后表面出射的荷能粒子。所测样品包括30、50和100μm芸豆子叶切片和20μm的西红柿皮,测量结果表明低能离子在植物样品中存在长程穿透现象,在芸豆切片中的穿透深度至少可达60μm,此时穿透的概率很小,大于10^-5;长程穿透的离子产生的损伤空间分布不均匀。样品的高能质子透射能谱显现辐照损伤不是特别严重,推测这种长程穿透的现象由植物样品本身的结构决定。