Objective To investigate the relationship between the radiation dose and the HPRT gene locus mutation in rat smooth muscle cells, and provide the molecular basis for prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).MethodsThe smooth muscle cells cultured in vitro were irradiated by radionuclide 188Re in different doses. HPRT gene mutation colonies were selected and isolated by 6 thioguanine. Analysis of mutation in exon 7/8 of HPRT gene were accomplished by polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformation polymorphism.ResultsThe HPRT gene mutation frequency of rat smooth muscle cells that were irradiated by radionuclide 188Re ranged from 5.5×10-6 to 13×10-6. Of 91 HPRT gene mutation colonies, 13(14.3%) contained exon 7/8 deletion and 15(16.5%) had point mutation. The exon 7/8 mutation frequency was 30.8%. There were significant relationships between radiation dose and mutation frequency of HPRT gene and exon 7/8.ConclusionThe DNA damage and gene mutation induced by radiation has positive relationship with radiation dose, and is a basis of proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of smooth muscle cells.