[Radiobiological Human Tissue repository: progress and perspectives for solving the problems of radiation safety and health protection of personnel and population].

Radiobiological Human Tissue repository was established in order to obtain and store biological material from Mayak PA workers occupationally exposed to ionizing (α- and/or γ-) radiation in a wide dose range, from the residents exposed to long term radiation due to radiation accidents and transfer of the samples to scientists for the purpose of studying the effects of radiation for people and their offspring. The accumulated biomaterial is the informational and research potential that form the basis for the work of the scientists in different spheres of biology and medicine. The repository comprises 5 sections: tumor and non-tumor tissues obtained in the course of autopsies, biopsies, surgeries, samples of blood and its components, of DNA, induced sputum, saliva, and other from people exposed or unexposed (control) to radiation.

X-ray fluorescence microscopy for investigation of archival tissues.

Several recent efforts in the radiation biology community worldwide have amassed records and archival tissues from animals exposed to different radionuclides and external beam irradiation. In most cases, these samples come from lifelong studies on large animal populations conducted in national laboratories and equivalent institutions throughout Europe, North America, and Japan. While many of these tissues were used for histopathological analyses, much more information may still be obtained from these samples.

Quantitative assessment of regulatory proteins in blood as markers of radiation effects in the late period after occupational exposure.

The objective of this research was quantitative assessment of serum and membrane regulatory proteins in blood from nuclear workers as markers of radiation-induced alterations in immune homeostasis in the late period after protracted exposure of nuclear workers with different doses. The effector and regulatory lymphocytes were measured using a flow cytofluorometer in workers from the main facilities of the Mayak PA (aged ∼60 y up to 80 y) in the late period after combined exposure to external gamma-rays and internal alpha-radiation from incorporated 239Pu. The control group included non-occupationally exposed members of the Ozyorsk population matched by gender and age to the group of Mayak workers.

[The use of temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis to reveal mutations in peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA].

The mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) arise at a higher frequency than in nuclear DNA, and their appearance in peripheral blood can be considered as a sensitive marker to estimate the level of genotoxic load. For revealing the presence of mutations in mtDNA of peripheral blood, we used the method of temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE). The samples of whole blood DNA from four donor groups were used.

A repository of bio-specimens from Mayak workers exposed to protracted radiation.

A repository of bio-specimens that includes organs from 700 deceased workers employed at the first nuclear weapons facility "Mayak" and donations of blood, buccal cells, and tissues removed at the time of surgery and/or biopsy from the members of the Mayak cohort undergoing medical treatment or diagnostic procedures has been established at the Southern Ural Biophysics Institute, in Ozyorsk, Russian Federation. The autopsied tissues include formaline-preserved organs, paraffin blocks, and histology slides. For all, occupational, dosimetry, and detailed medical information is available.

[Cytogenetic effects of alpha-irradiation due to incorporated 239Pu].

Intravenous injection of plutonium dioxide with 1-2 microns particle sizes in amount of 92.5, 46.3 and 23.

Assessing the uniformity of plutonium alpha radiation dose in human lung: the Mayak experience.

Radiation-induced lung cancer risk is currently estimated based on epidemiological data from populations exposed either to relatively uniform, low-LET radiation, or from uranium miners who inhaled radon and its progeny. Inhaled alpha-emitting radionuclides (e.g.

[Comparative study of hazards of energy plutonium and standard Pu-239 using non stochastic effects].

In experiment with rats it was found that the "energy" Pu is more toxic than standard 239Pu when entered endotracheally. The comparison was made by the non-stochastic effects. The toxicity in respiratory system and blood system was 1.

[State of cellular immunity effectors of the lung in inhalation exposure to low-transportable Pu-239].

The reduction of populations of lung cell immunity effectors as well as changes in their cytotoxic and phagocytic activity was observed in rats after inhalation exposure to polymeric 239Pu. Dose-response curves described as a function of absorbed dose of alpha-irradiation in lung.

[Experimental study of anti-radiation effects of interleukin-1 beta].

Therapeutical effect of human recombinant IL-1 beta on exposed CBA mice was shown. Single injection of IL-1 beta into mice exposed to LD70, LD80 and LD100 raised their 30-day survival by 60, 40 and 35%, respectively. Therapeutically effective doses of IL-1 beta were 100-200 micrograms/kg.

Tritium radiobiological effects in mammals: review of experiments of the last decade in Russia.

This review briefly describes techniques and basic results of experimental investigations in mice and rats on metabolism, dosimetry, and radiobiological effects of tritium oxide and some tritiated biogenic compounds (glucose, amino acids, and nucleosides) during the last 10 to 15 years in Russia. The content of water in tissue cells of mammals is shown to be 15 to 40% less than in whole tissue. The kinetics of tritium incorporation from oxide (HTO) and its retention in DNA of hemopoietic tissues were studied.

[The effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on hemopoiesis recovery and the survival of irradiated mice].

A human recombinant granulocytic-and-macrophagic colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) administered repeatedly to irradiated (10 Gy) CBA mice increased CFUs and CFU-GM content, the number of bone marrow granulocytes and erythronormoblasts, and spleen and peripheral blood cellularity. The survival rate of exposed (9.7 Gy) mice repeatedly injected with rGM-CSF increased from 25% (control) to 90%.

[An increase in the incidence of tritium-induced leukoses with the repeated administration of a bacterial lipopolysaccharide].

The incidence of leukoses upon long-term administration of tritium oxide to Wistar rats increased by 15.6% as compared to 2.1% in controls.

[Cytogenetic characteristics of H3 oxide induced myeloid leukemia in Wistar rats].

Frequency and spectrum of chromosomal aberrations were studied in hemopoietic cells of Wistar rats myeloid leukaemia induced by the prolonged exposure to tritium oxide. Differences in quantitative and structural damages of chromosomes were revealed by the cytogenetic assessment of eighteen rats with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and six rats with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The most characteristic chromosomal aberrations for AML appeared to be rearrangements in chromosomes 1-3.

[The early changes in humoral immunity under the prolonged action of tritium oxide with different dose rates].

Within the dose range from 0.2 to 1 Gy, early changes in the humoral immunity of mice exposed to tritium oxide at varying dose rates have been investigated. The study of the immunity impairment at different stages of immunopoiesis permits to reveal the points (a lymphocyte precursor department) that are mostly affected by radiation, to find the causes of the decrease in the antibody production, and to reveal the relationship between the damages observed the dose absorbed and dose rate of beta radiation.

[Hematopoietic precursor cells in Wistar rats with acute myeloblastic leukemia].

The studies were performed on Wistar rats with acute myeloblastic leukemia induced by a prolonged administration of tritiated water (370 MBq/kg/day-1; an absorbed dose--25.3 Gy) and by repeated pyrogenal injections. A reduction of the pool of polypotent hemopoietic cells (CFUs) with a simultaneous increase of their proliferative activity and a decline of their ability to self-supporting were observed in the leukemia-bearing animals.

[The frequency of chromosome aberrations in rat bone marrow cells in the late period after a single uptake of tritium].

A prolonged self-maintenance of haemopoietic tissue cells with stable chromosome rearrangements following a single intake of tritium oxide in the amount of 24 MBq/g of body weight (absorbed dose of 11 Gy) is shown. Mutant cells revealed long after the radionuclide exposure are descendants of stem-cell precursors, bearing stable chromosome aberrations during the period of formation of radiation injury after the radionuclide administration.

[Disorders of hematopoiesis induced by plutonium-239 dioxide].

A large-dispersed plutonium 239 dioxide intravenously administered to rats in doses of 92.5, 46.3, 23.

[Structural chromosomal damages in myelokaryocytes exposed to plutonium-239 dioxide].

Plutonium 239 dioxide, with particle sizes of 1-2 micron, injected to Wistar rats intravenously in doses of 92.5, 46.3, and 23.

[Effect of prolonged continuous external irradiation on humoral immunity indices of mice].

Changes in the content and function of cell populations and subpopulations involved in the humoral response of mice to the thymus-dependent antigen were investigated. The effect was followed during a prolonged continuous exposure to 137Cs gamma-emitter (total dose--5 Gy and daily dose--12 cGy for 22 hours) and after its termination. The data obtained give evidence for a decrease of the pool of polypotent lymphocyte precursors (CFUs), stable moderate hypoplasia of central and peripheral organs of the immune system, distinct inhibition of antibody production at the expense of reduced activity of precursors of lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes and T-helpers.

[Damage to the hematopoietic system of BALB/c and CBA mice undergoing long-term repeated irradiation].

A higher death rate of BALB/c as compared to CBA mice was registered during long-term external irradiation. The changes in the content of the morphologically recognized bone marrow cells and blood formed elements in the exposed mice of the studied lines were different.

[Chromosome aberrations in hematopoietic stem cells in late periods after prolonged external irradiation].

At remote times following long-term external irradiation of Wistar rats with a cumulative dose of 10 Gy a 2-4-fold increase was registered in the spontaneous yield of chromosome aberrations in a population of original haemopoietic cells-precursors mainly due to symmetrical inter- and intrachromosomal exchanges.

[Determination of the efficiency of reparative processes in the chromosomes of bone marrow cells in vivo by using test irradiation].

The method developed on rats was applied to estimate the effectiveness of reparative processes in myelokaryocyte chromosomes using the test-irradiation in vivo (0.5 Gy, gamma-rays of 137Cs). The method is based on the comparison of the curves demonstrating the chromosome aberration yield in the first mitosis following the test-irradiation of experimental and control animals.

[Granulocytopoiesis during the development of radiation injury from prolonged intake of tritium oxide].

During chronic exposure to tritium oxide (a dose rate of 0.125 Gy/day-1, and a cumulative-absorbed dose of 22.1 Gy) different granulocytopoiesis compartments (i.

[Inactivation of non-syngeneic hematopoietic stem cells by mouse lymphocytes after long-term exposure to tritium oxide].

A study was made of functional activity of lymphocytes, which inactivated nonsyngeneic colony-forming units (CFU) in allogenous and xenogenous interaction systems, at different times after long-term action of tritium oxide in a cumulative dose of approximately 9 Gy. The function of these lymphocytes was depressed during the first months after termination of exposure while at later times it exceeded the control level. The consequences of the interaction between lymphocytes and nonsyngeneic CFU were also studied in this work.