Lens epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation are naturally well regulated and controlled, a characteristic essential for lens structure, symmetry and function. The effect of ionizing radiation on lens epithelial cell proliferation has been demonstrated in previous studies at high acute doses, but the effect of dose and dose rate on proliferation has not yet been considered. In this work, mice received single acute doses of 0.5, 1 and 2 Gy of radiation, at dose rates of 0.063 and 0.3 Gy/min. Eye lenses were isolated postirradiation at 30 min up until 14 days and flat-mounted. Then, cell proliferation rates were determined using biomarker Ki67. As expected, radiation increased cell proliferation 2 and 24 h postirradiation transiently (undetectable 14 days postirradiation) and was dose dependent (changes were very significant at 2 Gy; P = 0.008). A dose-rate effect did not reach significance in this study (P = 0.054). However, dose rate and lens epithelial cell region showed significant interactions (P < 0.001). These observations further our mechanistic understanding of how the lens responds to radiation.

晶状体上皮细胞的增殖和分化自然受到良好的调节和控制，这是晶状体结构、对称性和功能所必需的特征。先前的研究已经证明了高急性剂量的电离辐射对晶状体上皮细胞增殖的影响，但尚未考虑剂量和剂量率对增殖的影响。在这项工作中，小鼠接受了单次急性剂量的 0.5、1 和 2 Gy 辐射，剂量率为 0.063 和 0.3 Gy/min。照射后 30 分钟直至 14 天将眼睛镜片隔离并平放。然后，使用生物标志物 Ki67 测定细胞增殖率。正如预期的那样，辐射在辐射后 2 小时和 24 小时内短暂地增加了细胞增殖（辐射后 14 天检测不到），并且具有剂量依赖性（2 Gy 时变化非常显着； P = 0.008）。本研究中剂量率效应未达到显着性（ P = 0.054）。然而，剂量率和晶状体上皮细胞区域显示出显着的相互作用（ P <0.001）。这些观察结果进一步加深了我们对晶状体如何响应辐射的机制理解。