Adaptive Response in Frogs Chronically Exposed to Low Doses of Ionizing Radiation in the Environment

Abstract

Using the micronucleus assay, decreased DNA damage was found to be induced by high doses of ionizing radiation in hepatic cells from leopard frogs inhabiting a natural environment with above-background levels of ionizing radiation, compared to cells from frogs inhabiting background areas. The data obtained from a small number of animals suggest that stress present in the above-background environment could induce an adaptive response to ionizing radiation. This study did not reveal harmful effects of exposure to low levels of radioactivity. On the contrary, stress present in the above-background area may serve to enhance cellular defence mechanisms.