Effect of X Radiation on Rat Fetal Oral Mucosa in Tissue Culture

¹ Department of Medicine (Periodontics), University of Texas at Houston, Dental Branch, Houston, Texas 77025

Cultures of oral mucosa from 15- to 17-day-old rat fetuses were placed under cellophane membranes on cover glasses of Rose chambers to determine the action of low doses of X radiation on the oral epithelial cells, exclusive of mitotic phenomena. The principal characteristic of the emigrating cells in control cultures was established. The most important changes in surviving cells of the irradiated cultures were the formation of multinucleated giant cells, cellular vacuolization, and movements of the cell membranes (zeiosis and pericyclosis). Even with the low doses, there was a decided inhibition of growth.