Radiation-induced micronucleus frequencies in female peripheral blood lymphocytes collected during the first and second half of the menstrual cycle

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry Vol. 123; no. 4; pp. 483 - 489
• Main Authors: Krol, Marta, Lankoff, Anna, Buraczewska, Iwona, Derezinska, Edyta, Wojcik, Andrzej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-03-2007
• Subjects: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Female; Humans; Lymphocytes - radiation effects; Menstrual Cycle - radiation effects; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective - radiation effects; Micronucleus Tests; Middle Aged; Smoking
• ISSN: 0144-8420; 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncl545

Biological dosimetry relies on the assessment of dose in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of a victim. Variability in the individual radiosensitivity of PBL has an impact on the precision of dose estimate and radiation-induced micronuclei show a strong individual variability. A factor which can influence the radiosensitivity of PBL is the hormonal status of female donors, which shows a regular pattern during the menstrual cycle. The aim of the present investigation was to verify whether the position within the menstrual cycle has an impact on the level of micronuclei in PBL. Blood was collected from 19 donors during the first and second half of the menstrual cycle and exposed to 2 Gy. Although statistically significant differences between the MN frequencies in PBL collected during the different time points were observed in the case of some donors, no reproducible trend that could find application in biological dosimetry could be detected.