RBE VALUES OF D(16)+BE AND D(50)+BE NEUTRONS FOR CHROMOSOME REARRANGEMENTS INDUCED IN MOUSE SPERMATOGONIA

Abstract

The rate of reciprocal translocations induced in mouse spermatogonia by exposure to X-rays and to neutrons produced by 16 and 50 MeV deuterons was estimated by scoring multivalent configurations in the descendant spermatocytes. In the X-irradiated group the yield of translocations increases from 2.1/100 cells after exposure to 100 rad to 5.7 after exposure to 300 rad. The dose-response relationship shows no statistical departure from linearity. After exposure to 50, 100 or 150 rad of d (16) + Be and d (50) + Be neutrons, the yield of translocations displays a humped curve. Up to this dose the RBE value decreases with absorbed dose and neutron energy.