Effects of Ultraviolet and X-Ray Radiation on in vitro Cultivated Cells of Haplopappus gracilis

A cell strain of Haplopappus gracills was used for investigations of the effects of UV (2537 A) and X-ray irradiation. Mitotic inhibition and killing after UV exposure were studied. A survival curve of UV treated and then plated cells is presented. The LD₅₀ seems to be about 2000 erg. mm^?2 under the experimental conditions used. All types of chromosome aberrations are induced by UV irradiation, but the frequency is relatively low at doses which do not completely inhibit cell division. A mutant strain of chromosome type is isolated after UV treatment and then plating. Mitotic inhibition and killing after X-ray treatment were studied. A survival curve is presented and the LD₅₀ under the culture conditions used seems to be about 2000 R. The frequency of chromosome aberrations induced by X-rays is highly increased by aeration during X-ray treatment which indicates that some degree of cell anoxia exists in a cell suspension. There arr indications that chromosome aherrations may not cause growth inhibition to such an extent as is usually believed.