Life shortening was investigated in both sexes of the <tex-math>${\rm B}6{\rm CF}_{1}$</tex-math> (C57BL/6 × BALB/c) mouse exposed to fission neutrons and60 Co γ rays. Three basic exposure patterns for both neutrons and γ rays were compared: single exposures, 24 equal once-weekly exposures, and 60 equal once-weekly exposures. Ten different dose-response models were fitted to the data for animals exposed to neutrons. The response variable used for all dose-response modeling was mean after-survival. A simple linear model adequately described the response to neutrons for females and males at doses ≤80 cGy. At higher neutron dose levels a linear-quadratic equation was required to describe the life-shortening response. An effect of exposure pattern was observed prior to the detection of curvature in the dose response for neutrons and emerged as a potentially significant factor at neutron doses in the range of 40-60 cGy. Augmentation of neutron injury with dose protraction was observed in both sexes and began at doses as low as 60 cGy. The life-shortening response for all animals exposed to γ rays (22-1918 cGy) was linear and inversely dependent upon the protraction period (1 day, 24 weeks, 60 weeks). Depending on the exposure pattern used for the γ-ray baseline, relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values ranged from 6 to 43. Augmentation, because it occurred only at higher levels of neutron exposure, had no influence on the estimation of <tex-math>${\rm RBE}_{{\rm m}}$</tex-math>.

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