STUDIES ON THE IMMUNE RESPONSES OF CONTINUOUSLY IRRADIATED MICE

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1963 · Guy's Hosp. Rept.

OSTI ID:4037378

Bensted, J P.M.

The construction and use of a chamber for exposing mice continuously to / sup 137/Cs gamma radiation is described and illustrated. The continuous irradiation unit consists essentially of a 7-C central source of /sup 137/Cs around which the animals are arranged in cages at varying distances from the source so that the dose rate depends on the distance of the animal from the source. As a measure of the effect of radiation on the immune status of mice, their ability to produce hemagglutinating antibody as a primary response to sheep red cells was measured at various times after exposure to continuous gamma radiation. In the first study the ability of preimmunized mice to produce hemagglutinating antibody while exposed to continuous radiation at a dose rate of 84 r/day for 27 days was examined. Despite large accumulated radiation doses (2350 rad), the hemagglutinin titers were well maintained and even enhanced, particularly on removal from the unit. Mice exposed to continuous radiation at 50 r/day for varying periods prior to immunization were able to produce appreciable amounts of antibody but at lower levels than in the controls. The pattern of response indicated a delay in reaching control values rather than a diminution in titers. From histologic observations, it is suggested that the large amounts of sequestrated iron present in the spleen following irradiation may play an important part in stimulating the reticuloendothelial system (RES) to produce antibody in increased amounts. This iron accumulates mainly as a result of destruction and sequestration of circulating red celis, and it could be acting in the same way as a carbon suspension has been previously been shown to induce the transformation of the lymphoid celis into the radioresistant plasma cells. After removal from the /sup 137/Cs unit, the amount of iron in the spleen diminished as a resuit of the reutiiization of the iron by the actively regenerating red cell system. Despite this, the number of plasma cells increased as a result of further mitotic activity of the plasmablasts and plasma cells. The presence of large numbers of mast cells in the spleens of mice during the early part of radiation exposure was noted. The mast cell increase following irradiation may thus result in higher local levels of heparin, and these levels may in turn increase the tendency to local hemorrhage with further deposition of iron in the macrophages of the red pulp. It is concluded that the increased antibody levels are a reflection of the proliferation of some cell type of the RES which remains relatively resistant despite the accumulation of large doses of radiation. (BBB)

• Research Organization: Royal Cancer Hospital, London
• NSA Number: NSA-18-019623
• OSTI ID: 4037378
• Journal Information: Guy's Hosp. Rept., Journal Name: Guy's Hosp. Rept. Vol. Vol: 112
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMAL CELLS
ANTIBODIES
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD PLASMA
CESIUM 137
COAGULATION
CYTOLOGY
DECOMPOSITION
ERYTHROCYTES
GAMMA RADIATION
GAMMA SOURCES
HEMAGGLUTINATION
HEMORRHAGE
HORMONES
IMMUNITY
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRRADIATION
LETHAL DOSE
LYMPH SYSTEM
MAST CELLS
MEASURED VALUES
MICE
MITOSIS
PERFORMANCE
PHYSIOLOGY
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM
SPLEEN
STANDARDS
TESTING
TISSUES
VARIATIONS