Possible dose rate dependence of recovery kinetics as deduced from a preliminary analysis of the effects of fractionated irradiations at varying dose rates

Abstract

Data relating to jejunal crypt survival following fractionated total body irradiation of C3H mice have been subjected to a preliminary analysis using the linear-quadratic formalism. Because the regimes considered involved fairly closely-spaced fractions, delivered at dose rates in the range 1.2-72 Gy h-1, it was necessary to further develop previously established forms of the model in order to carry out the evaluation. The magnitude of the recovery half-life has been deduced for each of the regimes and found to be in the approximate range 0.1-0.6 h. For any given fraction number, the half-life appears to be markedly dependent on dose rate, increasing with dose rate up to approximately 25 Gy h-1, falling off thereafter. Tentative reasons for this behaviour are given, together with an assessment of the possible shortcomings of the analytical method.