Mutation and sister chromatid exchange induction in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by pulsed excimer laser radiation at 193 nm and 308 nm and continuous UV radiation at 254 nm.

We compared mutagenesis and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) induction by 193 nm and 308 nm pulsed excimer laser radiation with 254 nm low intensity continuous wave UV light in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in culture. The 254 nm radiation was most mutagenic of the radiations, in accordance with expectation, and also was most effective in increasing the level of SCEs. The 193 nm radiation was mutagenic at the ouabain resistance locus, but not at the HGPRT locus. However, 193 nm radiation was also strongly cytotoxic at energies producing measurable mutations. This radiation also caused a dose-related increase in SCEs. Pulsed excimer radiation at 308 nm was mutagenic at both loci, and also increased the incidence of SCEs. Comparison of the ratio of mutants/surviving cells at the D37 after radiation showed similar values for 254 nm and 308 nm at the HGPRT locus, but at the ouabain resistance locus, the ratio for the 308 nm radiation was about 5 times that for 254 nm radiation. These results indicate that some risk for mutagenesis may accompany the use of excimer radiation in the UVA region in therapeutic applications.