The relationship between colony-forming ability and chromosomal aberrations induced in human t-lymphocytes after γirradiation

Using aliquots from the same samples of irradiated normal human blood, T-lymphocyte survival was measured by (a) 14-day colony growth, (b) the proportion of chromosomally normal first post-irradiation metaphases and (c) the proportion of cells not suffering interphase death and delay within 48 h after irradiation. Combining (b) and (c) gives a prediction of the proportion of cytogenetically undamaged cells which reach metaphase after 48 h. These cells should be capable of producing viable colonies under suitable culture conditions. A comparison of these values with those observed in (a) shows a reasonable agreement in accordance with the hypothesis that gross chromosomal damage and cell reproductive death are closely related.