EFFECT OF INTERNALLY DEPOSITED RADIOISOTOPES UPON BLOOD VESSELS OF CORTICAL BONES

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1960 · Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3181/00379727-105-26108· OSTI ID:4109518

Jee, W S.S.; Arnold, J S

It has been observed that after an extensive latent period following acquistion of plutonium, radiothorium, and radium in cortical bone, plugging of the haversian canals occurs which in turn results in bone necrosis. Investigation of this phenonmenon with a vascular injection technique and a bone- seeking alpha emitter (plutonium) which deposits on surfaces of haversian canals and allows the remainder of the osteones and adjacent interstitial lamellae to be free of activity, show that death of osteocytes is principally the result of disrupted blood supply rather than direct alpha-ray killing. With radiothorium, concentration of alpha particles avout haversian canals was sufficient to result in total plugging of the vascular tree within the haversian canals resulting in complete bone necrosis and inhibition of internal reconstruction of cortical bone. With radium and plutonium only about half of the canals are plugged, which allows internal reconstruction to proceed; however, the nature of the remodeling in this environment is abnormal (formation of large cavities and abnormal osteones). It is also suggested that both deviation of bone and occurrence of large cavities weaken the bone which in turn results in spontaneous fracturing of long bones. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Utah, salt Lake City
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-15-003899
• OSTI ID: 4109518
• Journal Information: Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med., Journal Name: Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. Vol. Vol: 105
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALPHA PARTICLES
ALPHA SOURCES
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD VESSELS
BONES
PARTICLE SOURCES
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM
THORIUM