Effects of radiation on rat respiratory epithelial cells: critical target cell populations and the importance of cell-cell interactions.

The oncongenic effects of radiation on rat respiratory tissues are modulated in vivo within the intact tissue. The degree of modulation as well as the mechanism whereby modulation occurs appears to be different for different types of ionizing radiations. A combined cell culture -in vivo model is described. This model has been developed to evaluate the influence of the host and tissue environment on development and expression of the neoplastic phenotype in irradiated rat trachea. Our data indicates that the potentially oncogenic effects of neutrons, X Rays, and alpha-particles are different depending on the exposure conditions employed and the conditions under which exposed cells are maintained following exposure.