Effect of Salt Solutions on Radiosensitivity of Mammalian Cells

Abstract

The radiation isodose survival curve of [Chinese hamster lung fibroblast S-171-W2] cells subjected to a wide concentration range of sucrose solutions had 2 maxima separated by a minimum. Cations and anions altered the cellular radiosensitivity above and beyond the osmotic effect observed for cells treated with sucrose solutions. The basic shape of the isodose curve was also modulated by changes in temperature and solution exposure times. Some of these alterations in radiosensitivity may be related to changes in the amount and structure of cellular water or macromolecular conformation or to the direct effect of the ions, especially at high solute concentrations.