NABILA S. SELIM*, O.S. DESOUKY*, SEHAM M. ALI*, I.H. IBRAHIM**, HODA A. ASHRY*

*Biophysics Laboratory, Radiation Physics Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), EAEA, POB 29 Madinat Nasr Cairo, Egypt.
**Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo Egypt.

The present work aims to study the radiation effects on the red blood cell membrane from three different but correlated properties; electrical, mechanical and chemical, and to derive useful parameters for the evaluation of radiation effects. AC conductivity of cell suspension was measured in the frequency range 40 kHz to 5 MHz, the osmotic fragility of the membrane and solubilization of the membrane by detergent were also measured. Adult male rats were exposed to 1, 2.5, 3.5, 5, 7 and 9 Gy gamma radiation from Cs137 source. The results showed decrease in the AC conductivity, average osmotic fragility and average membrane solubilization. The effect of radiation on the red blood cell membrane was discussed.

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