[The effect of chronic gamma irradiation in small doses on the adenylate cyclase activity of lung tissue plasma membranes in rats].

A study was made of the response of adenylate cyclase of cytoplasmic membranes of pulmonary tissue to chronic gamma irradiation of rats at a low-dose rate (0.036 cGy/day). The adenylate cyclase complex receptors were shown to respond to such exposure by activation of the enzyme they control and by being more sensitive to their specific effector, isoproterenol. The role of receptors in the manifestation of radiation hormesis is discussed.