Abstract
OXYGEN is known to increase the effectiveness of X-rays in killing bacteria1,2 and cells from many other organisms3 by a factor of 2 or 3. There have been numerous reports of substances which protect against the effects of irradiation under aerobic conditions4, but there does not appear to be any report of a substance which, in complete anoxia, raises the radiosensitivity of bacteria to the level normally associated with full aeration. Before giving the evidence which suggests that nitric oxide may be such a substance, we may consider the factors which first directed attention to this gas.
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References
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HOWARD-FLANDERS, P. Effect of Nitric Oxide on the Radiosensitivity of Bacteria. Nature 180, 1191–1192 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1038/1801191a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1801191a0
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