SUCCESSIVE CHANGES IN THE CORNEA OF YOUNG AXOLOTL (SIREDON MEXICANUM) AFTER X-IRRADIATION
The heads of 287 small axolotls were irradiated locally with 9000, 6000, 3000, 1000, 500, or 250 r. Fifty animals served as untreated controls. A histologic study of the specimens fixed at short intervals of irradiated and control corneas was made. After irradiation with 9000 r, the first change was noted 8 days later, and it progressed gradually until 18 days when the last surviving animal was fixed. The outer surface of the cornea became uneven, the cells eniarged, and melanophores appeared in the epithelium. The isolated projections of separate cells could be noted. The cornea gradually became completely disorganized and completely destroyed. After irradiation with 6000 r, the first changes in the corneal epithelium could be noted 18 days after treatment. Thirty days after irradiation, many very great compact melanophores andd small pigment granules were observed in the corneal epithelium. The number of cells were greatly reduced, and some of them were of giant size. Isolated projections from the epithelium were also observed. After irradiation with 3000 r, definite morphological changes of the epithelium were observed 22 days after irradiation. Thirty-five days after irradiation, disorganization of the corneal epithelium was observed. Only isolated giant epithelial cells were seen. After complete destruction of the corneal epithelium, it was replaced by a typical skin epithelium with many Leydig cells. After irradiation with 1000 r and 500 r, the typical primary changes were observed at 21 days. In some cases, the corneal epithelium completely recovered, and in others it completely disappeared and was replaced with skin epithelium. After irradiation with 250 r, destruction of the corneal epithelium was not observed, but in some cases a very thick corneal epithelium was seen which was three to four times as thick as the epithelium of control animals. The development of melanophores in the cornea is a result of irradiation. Normally, the cornea has no melanophores. In control animals they were never observed in the cornea. The peculiar resistance to irradiation of eye pigment cells in the chloroid is emphasized and contrasts greatly with sensitivity of melanophores in other regions of the body of amphibians and mammals, e.g., graying of hairs after irradiation. Resistance and the progressive development of melanophores in new regions such as epithelium or cornea were observed. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Roswell Park Memorial Inst., Buffalo
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-001418
- OSTI ID:
- 4157788
- Journal Information:
- Radiation Res., Vol. Vol: 20; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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