Effects of ultrasound, cysteamine, and x-rays on V79 Chinese hamster cells

The effects of biomedical ultrasound on a subline of Chinese hamster V79 cells were examined for the following endpoints: (1) cell lysis, loss of viability and growth alteration induced by ultrasound. (2) Cell sensitivity to ultrasound as a function of cell cycle position after synchronization by mitotic collection; (3) Cell lysis and survival after addition of cysteamine before and during ultrasound or x-ray treatment. These results indicate that at high, but not low, intensities ultrasonically induced free radicals perturb the reproductive integrity of cells which survive lysis although they do not play a role in cell lysis. Thus, at least at high intensities, free radical formation is one but not the only mechanism responsible for ultrasound's effects on cells