Effect of storage duration on cell cycle kinetics and yield of chromosomal aberrations in PHA-responsive human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-responsive lymphocytes from human peripheral blood samples, either irradiated or un-irradiated, showed increased frequency of first division metaphase cells (detected by fluorescence plus Giemsa (FPG) staining) as a function of duration of storage. Irradiated and subsequently stored samples showed small but significant increase for the yield of dicentrics. The yield of aberrant metaphases and deletions (excess acentrics) remained unchanged. Increasing Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) concentrations slowed down the cell cycle progression but did not influence the yield of aberrations including that of dicentrics.