Effects of External Whole-Body gamma-Irradiation on Blood Picture and Growth in Young Rabbits

Sung, Jai Ki

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 1973;13(1):85-102.

Jai Ki Sung

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture, Seoul National University

Cobalt-60 gamma 선(線) 외부전신조사(外部全身照射)가 어린 토끼의 혈액상(血液像)과 성장률(成長率)에 미치는 영향(影響)

성재기

서울대학교 농과대학 수의학과

Abstract

In the event a population of animals is exposed to ionizing radiation, proper disposition of animals will minimize loss to the farmer and protect the public from unwholesome meat and dairy products. Clinical response is an important factor in considering salvage of animals for food following exposure to ionizing radiation whether the dose is lethal or not. It is the purpose of this report to present the discussions of blood picture and growth of y ung growing rabbits exposed to cobalt-60 gamma-irradiation. The experimental animals were Hyrnalayan rabbits of 65 days old. The body weight for all animals of the time of irradiation was approximately 450g. The 96 rabbits used in the experiment were allotted t groups of eight. Rabbits in one group served as controls and the others were exposed to single doses of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 Roentgens (R). The exposure does rate averaged 15 R per minute. Central blood was obtained by heart puncture. Erythrocyte and leukocyte enumerations and, determinations of hemoglobin in blood and hematocrit value were made in the usual manner. Erythrocyte counts, concentrations of hemoglobin in blood, and hematocrit readings dropped to the lowest value between 1 and 4 weeks postirradiation, returning towards the control values. But recovery was not complete at the time of the last determination on 6 weeks postirradiation. There was a progressive decrease with increasing radiation does in the above values. Mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were not affected by the irradiation. After irradiation of each does the numbers of total leukocyte and the absolute numbers of various types of white cell began to decrease rapidly, and reached a minimum after 2 weeks, returning towards normal levels. But recovery was not complete at the time of the last determination on 6 weeks postirradiation. The reductions in total leukocyte and differential counts as the radiation does increases were apparent. Relative neutrophilia was observed in each irradiated group because of more expense of lymphocytes after irradiation. Growth rate of the rabbits was not affected by 100 R of whloe-body irradiation, while rabbits irradiated with 200, 300, 400 and 500 R showed marked depression of growth rate. As the radiation does increases, a depression of growth rate was apparent. The rabbits exposed to 600 and 700 R ceased from growing and recovery was not recognized during the experimental period.