Programmed cell death(PCD), or apoptosis, is a conceptually different way of cell death from necrosis. PCD plays an important role in immunologic regulation. PCD in thymocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry following in vitro X-irradiation. It was found that culturing of thymocytes could induce PCD which showed a time dependent increase. Four hours after culturing, 16% of thymocytes was found in the Ao region (PCD is shown in the Ao region of the histogram of flow cytometry). PCD in thymocytes showed a time dependent increase after 2.0 Gy X-irradiation, being significantly higher than that in the control at the same culturing time. 24 hours after X-irradiation in vitro, it was found that with 'doses below 100 mGy PCD was not significantly differrent from the control at the same culturing time. but when the doses were above 100 mGy, PCD showed a dose dependent increase, being significantly higher than that of the control at the same culturing time. These results are important in the understanding of the biological effects of low dose radiation.