Radiation-Sterilized Mammalian Cells

Mammalian cells retain several vital functions after exposure to sterilizing doses of radiation. The article reviews briefly these functions in view of experimental evidence. Post-irradiation synthesis of cellular constituents and post-irradiation division competence are referred to in particular. Due to the prolonged retention of several of their functions and their protracted disintegration, the radiation- sterilized cells affect surrounding tissues in various, specific ways, and can exert a growth-promoting and/or a growth-inhibiting activity. A direct cell-to-cell effect and an indirect effect, operating via the host organism, are discussed as the mechanisms. The practical importance of the effect of radiation-sterilized cells in biological experiments, in radiation therapy of tumours and tissue transplantation have been considered.