Nature 195, 1012 - 1013 (08 September 1962); doi:10.1038/1951012b0

Indirect Action of X-Radiation on Mammalian Cells

K. B. DAWSON, E. O. FIELD & H. MADOC JONES

Radiobiological Research Unit, Radiotherapy Department, Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Cancer Hospital, London, S.W.3.

IONIZING radiations may impair the reproductive capacity of cells either by directly altering specific biochemical sites or indirectly by giving rise to free radicals in water which then react chemically with specific sites. In the frozen state the mobility of free radicals is hindered, and consequently the radio-sensitivity of cells reduced to an extent that depends on the degree to which the indirect mechanism is involved.

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