Effect of low-dose gamma radiation on nuclear RNA-polymerase activity and protein synthesis in liver cells of different-age chicks

Abstract

The effect of low-dose (0.05 Gy) gamma irradiation of chicks in the preincubation period on subsequent liver cell RNA-polymerase activity and protein synthesis is studied at different ages. It is shown that irradiated chicks demonstrate an increased level of RNA-polymerase and increased incorporation of labeled amino acids into cytoplasmic proteins. Apparently, low-dose ionizing radiation induces activation of the liver cell genome, this being one of the main mechanisms of the general stimulatory effect of low doses.