ABDOMINAL IRRADIATION AND THE THYMUS OF THE ADULT RAT: THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE ADRENAL GLANDS AND SCATTERED RADIATION

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Am. J. Roentgenol., Radium Therapy Nuclear Med.

OSTI ID:4090106

Corp, M J; Law, A W; Mole, R H

The degree of damage to the thymus caused by direct irradiation with 25 to 100 r was not altered by a fifty-fold change in dose rate. It was not possible to confirm the often-cited finding that the effect of abdominal irradiation on the thymus is due to stimulation of the adrenal gland. Abdominal irradiation of starved adult rats with 2000 or 5000 r caused a 25 to 40% reduction in thymic DNA-P and in thymic weight 48 hr later. However, adrenalectomy scarcely modified the degree of change which could be almost wholly accounted for by the scattered radiation which is presumed to reach the thymus. Physical and biologic measurements of the scattered dose were in agreement. In control animals adrenalectomy led to an increase in the weight of the thymus and to a decrease in starvation. In view of the effect of abdominal irradiation on food intake and the effect of food intake on the thymus, evidence from starved animals is considered to be more reliable than evidence from animals with free access to food when investigating the possible existence of abscopal effects of abdominal irradiation on the thymus. (auth)

• Research Organization: Medical Research Council, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-010700
• OSTI ID: 4090106
• Journal Information: Am. J. Roentgenol., Radium Therapy Nuclear Med., Journal Name: Am. J. Roentgenol., Radium Therapy Nuclear Med. Vol. Vol: 85
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ADRENAL GLANDS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
FOOD
GLANDS
INTESTINE
NUCLEIC ACIDS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RATS
SURGERY
THYMUS