Molecular nature of mutations induced in aging process and X-irradiation in spleen, liver and brain of LacZ-Transgenic mouse

Mutation is believed to be one of the important factors in radiation-induced carcinogenesis as well as in aging. The study of mutation, however, has long been limited to cultured cells and blood cells. Thus little is known about various tissues in a body. The absence of information on molecular nature of mutations which appear in tissues makes it difficult to understand mechanisms responsible for long-term effects of radiation. The problem, however, has been overcome lately by a development of transgenic mice which are made suitable for mutation assay by introduction of E. coli gene into mouse genome. In the present study, we have used one of these transgenic mice named MutaTM and examined molecular nature of mutants accumulated in aging process and those induced by high dose of radiation. (author)