Radioprotection by dithiothreitol (DTT) at varying oxygen concentrations: predictions of a modified competition model and theory evaluation.

Cultures of Chinese hamster cells were treated with dithiothreitol (DTT) at varying concentrations, and exposed to radiation aerobically or at various oxygen tensions. The extent of radioprotection by DTT was calculated using the yield of DNA strand breaks as a measure of the radiation response. The curve of protection factors (PF) had a specific pattern, characterized by low PF values at low and high oxygen tensions with a peak at an intermediate tension. The peak value of the PF was increased and shifted to higher oxygen tensions as DTT concentrations increased. The experimentally observed pattern of the PF curves is incompatible with the Alper model of the competition hypothesis, which assumes that the entire radiation injury can be modified by sensitizers or protectors. On the other hand, the pattern is consistent with a model (X model) which is based upon a modification of the original hypothesis and assumes two types of radiation injury, only one of which is modifiable.