Recovery from Radiation Injury: A Proposed Mechanism

Biological systems varying widely in complexity were examined for factors influencing recovery from radiation injury. The effects on survival of single, acute radiation exposure were compared with the effects of doses given in two fractions. Curves are included showing the effectiveness of a second dose of radiation as a function of time between first and second dose. An hypothesis is presented for recovery of mammalian tumor cells from radiation injury. (C.H.)