Genome damage and reactive oxygen species production in the progenies of irradiated CHO-K1 cells

A series of experiments to study the delayed effects of γ-radiation exposure in different generations of the progenies of irradiated cells of the ovary of the Chinese hamster CHO-K1 is conducted. It is shown that, in the progenies of the cells irradiated at a dose of 1 Gy, the following effects are observed: in cell generations 9–27, an increase in the genome damage, intracellular production of reactive oxygen species, percentage of apoptotic cells, and cell sensitivity to additional exposure (irradiation at a dose of 10 Gy); in cell generations 30–42, a decrease in these parameters to control values and increased resistance to additional exposure. It is assumed that the decrease in these parameters to the control values in postradiation cell generations 30–42 is caused by elimination of damaged cells or transition of genomic instability into a hidden (latent) condition.