TOLERANCE OF IRRADIATED ANIMALS TO PROLONGED HYPOXIA

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1960

OSTI ID:4140751

Newsom, B D; Kimeldorf, D J

Rats were maintained at a simulated altitude of 15,000 ft for 30 days following exposure to x-ray doses in the 30day LD/sub 10-90/ range. Non- irradiated rats maintained concurrently tolerated this level of altitude without apparent distress. The effect of prolonged altitude-exposure to the irradiated animals was equivalent to a 100 r decrease in the x-ray dose necessary to produce a 50% mortality response at 30 days. Mice as well as rats exhibited a greater mortality response to a given x-ray dose if maintained at altitude during the post-irradiation period. Red blood cell volume, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values were determined at intervals during thirty days of exposure to 15,000 ft simulated altitude following 460 r or 0 r, and were compared to those for similar groups maintained at sea level. The blood picture of irradiated animals during the first twenty days at altitude more closely resembled irradiated animals maintained at sea level than the altitude controls. These data suggest that the increased mortality of animals maintained at altitude following nadiation exposure is the result of a reduced blood cell volume and an inadequate erythropoietic response during exposure to hypoxia. (auth)

• Research Organization: Naval Radiological Defense Lab., San Francisco
• NSA Number: NSA-14-014662
• OSTI ID: 4140751
• Report Number(s): USNRDL-TR-414
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALTITUDE
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD FORMATION
CONTROL
ERYTHROCYTES
HEMOGLOBIN
HYPOXIA
IRRADIATION
LEVELS
MICE
OXYGEN
PRECIPITATION
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION DOSES
RATS
VARIATIONS
VOLUME
X RADIATION