Effect of dose-rate and dose fractionation on radiation-induced hemolysis of human erythrocytes.

Human erythrocytes suspended in an isotonic Na-phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 (hematocrit 2%) were exposed under air to gamma radiation at a dose rates of 2.2 kGy.h-1 and 4.2 kGy.h-1. The dose-response curves for hemolysis of erythrocytes indicated that the process of hemolysis is inversely related to the dose-rate. At both dose-rates we observed a reduced level of hemolysis, when erythrocytes were irradiated with a split dose (0.4 kGy + 2.3 kGy with an interval time between the subsequent exposures from 1 to 4 h) in comparison with the same single dose (2.7 kGy). The maximal effect of fractionation was observed when the interfraction time was equal to 3.5 h. The influence of the interfraction temperature on this effect was observed. The results obtained indicate that enucleated human erythrocytes under suitable radiation conditions are capable of repairing radiation damage which leads to hemolysis.