Sensitization of Anoxic Mammalian Cells to X-Rays by Triacetoneamine N-Oxyl. Survival and Toxicity Studies

The effect of triacetoneamine N-oxyl (TAN) on the x-ray survival response of cultured Chinese hamster cells has been investigated under anoxic and aerobic conditions. While the presence of this free radical did not alter the aerobic survival curve, it did substantially sensitize anoxic populations. The dose-modifying factors (DMF) for 1 mM and 10 mM TAN were found to be 1.3 and 1.5, respectively, while the DMF for oxygen was 2.8. Under the conditions of the experiment, the toxic effects of TAN on the cells were small.