Effects of mixed neutron-gamma irradiation in vivo on the cell surfaces of murine blood cells

Abstract

For studies on cell membranes, mice were exposed to mixed neutron + gamma reactor-radiation in the range of total doses from 0.5 to 4.5 Gy. Changes in functional activity of plasma membranes of erythrocytes, platelets, and lymphocytes were followed by a lectin-binding technique at various intervals afterwards. The amount of 3H-concanavalin A bound to cells altered considerably during the 1st h after irradiation in all cell types. Lymphocytes and platelets, however, were more sensitive than erythrocytes as increased lectin-binding could already be observed after 0.5 Gy. The binding ability of these cells performed oscillatory behaviour. In addition, alterations in shapes and ultrastructure of cell surfaces and intracellular membranes were observed.

Effects of mistletoe lectin I and ionizing radiation on the glucose and thymidine uptake in tumour cells in vitro

“…This increased glucose uptake upon environmental stress can be considered as a general response of cells through changes in plasma membrane function. Alteration of the physiological conditions of membranes have also been shown in our earlier experiments in vitro on different cell cultures and blood cells exposed to ionizing radiation at relatively low doses (0.25-2.5 Gy), as detected by the binding of radiolabelled concanavalin A lectin to the cell surfaces (Köteles et al, 1976;Kubasova et al, 1981aKubasova et al, , 1981bKubasova et al, , 1984.…”

“…In spite of the membrane perturbation effect of ionizing radiation (Köteles et al, 1976;Kubasova et al, 1984), no alteration was found in glucose uptake by Calu-1 cells irradiated with 1 Gy and incubated either in the restrictive or the complete medium. It seems that the cell responses to physical or chemical factors are formed in a different manner in the restrictive and the complete medium.…”

Oxidative Cell Membrane Alteration: Evidence for Surfactant‐Mediated Sealinga

“…34,35 There is also evidence that irradiation‐induced alterations in membrane proteins involve reduction in lectin binding. 36 The relative contribution of protein versus lipid damage to radiopermeabilization of cell membranes remains to be defined and is perhaps cell‐type specific.…”