Effects of irradiation with 60Co γ-rays on the ratio of DNA and RNA in CNI-H446 cells and its three-dimensional structure by laser scanning confocal microscopy

Objective: To investigate the effect of γ-radiation on DNA and RNA metabolism in cells of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) strain (CNI-H446) and their three-dimensional structure. Methods: Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and acridine orange (AO) staining was used to investigate the DNAPRNA changes in the cells, and automatic three-dimensional image scan was used to fine the change of its structure. Results: The DNAPRNA of the control group was 1.15 ± 0.07. When the dose of γ-radiation was more than 1 Gy, DNA decreased obviously and the extent of the decrease of DNA was larger than that of RNA. The values of DNAP RNA of the groups that were irradiated with 1 Gy and 3 Gy were significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.01). The three-dimensional image manifested that after large dose of irradiation, the RNA in the cells gathered obviously while DNA were disrupted. When the dose was 8 Gy, the value of DNAPRNA was not different from that of the control group. When the dose was 8 Gy or higher, RNA was suppressed as seriously as DNA, and the value of DNAPRNA increased. There is certain relationship between the value of DNAPRNA and the dose of radiation. Conclusion: After irradiated with different dose of γ-radiation, the ratio of DNA and RNA and the size of cells would change correspondingly. (authors)