Analysis of inversions and sister chromatid exchanges in chromosome 3 of human lymphocytes exposed to X-rays

It has been shown repeatedly that exposure of G(1) cells unifilarily labelled with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to X-rays leads to sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) when the cells are allowed to grow for one further cycle in the absence of BrdU. It has been suggested that damage induced by ionizing radiation does not lead to 'true' SCE and that the observed SCE are 'false', resulting from structural chromosomal aberrations, especially interstitial inversions. We used a painting probe for the p14 region of human chromosome 3 and anti-BrdU antibodies to analyse the frequency of radiation-induced SCE in that chromosome. This method allowed us to discriminate between para- and pericentric 'true' and 'false' SCE. Our results indicate that most radiation-induced SCE do not result from inversions.