Human peripheral blood lymphocytes PHA-stimulated in vitro for 24 h were exposed to low dose γ-ray irradiation (adaptive dose), they showed an adaptive response to the inhibition of DNA synthesis by subsequent higher acute doses of γ-ray (challenge dose). At the interval of 24h between adaptive dose and challenge dose, the most obvious adaptive response induced by low dose irradiation was found. It was also found that the response induced by 1.0 cGy of adaptive dose was more obvious than that by other doses. In the challenge doses range of 1.0~7.0 Gy, the adaptive response was observed and that 3.0 Gy was more obvious. The adaptive response disappeared with the challenge doses further increased.