Background: If whole blood cultures are used for cell culture method of lymphocyte
in order to score unstable chromosomal aberration after exposure to radiation, the
remained erythrocytes inhibit microscopic examination of chromosome. But in other
studies for chemical-induced cytotoxicity, the separated lymphocyte culture caused
decreased mitotic index. In order to determine the role of erythrocytes in the cell culture
condition after exposure to radiation, following study was performed.
Methods: Erythrocyte-removed or whole blood from healthy donor was cultured in
culture media containing phytohemagglutinin. With or without prior irradiation after
harvest and slide preparation mitotic index and chromosomal aberration were counted
with microscope.
Results : Mitotic index scores of whole blood culture were larger than those of
erythrocyte-removed cultures in control and 1 Gy groups. In 3 Gy group, there was no
difference between whole blood culture and erythrocyte-removed cultures. There were no
differences in the chromosomal aberration between whole blood culture and
erythrocyte-removed cultures in all groups.
Conclusion: Whole blood culture was more efficient than erythrocyte-removed
cultures for the biological dosimetry after exposure to radiation, because
erythrocyte-removal decreases the number of metaphase lymphocytes.

Keywords: Radiation, Erythrocyte, Mitotic index