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PROTRACTED EFFECTS OF REPEATED DOSES OF X-RAY IRRADIATION IN RATS

Journal Article · · Exptl. Mol. Pathol.
OSTI ID:4716307

Histopathologic observations are reported for a relatively old group of Sprague-Dawley rats that survived repeated doses of partial- and whole-body x irradiation. The following doses were administered at 4-week intervals during a 6-month period to the 52 test rats: 3 x 350 r (whole-body), 1000 r (chest), 900 r (both kidneys), and 500 r (whole-body). Animals dying early were discarded and all other animals were autopsied at death or sacrificed when they were 24 to 27 months of age. Carcinogenesis was prominent: there were 4.6 tumors per animal in irradiated rats versus 1.3 in controls. Repeated irradiation appeared to be highly carcinogenic with a selective effect upon the endocrine organs and the related governing systems. Renal and testicular tumors accompanied by nephrosclerosis and arteriosclerotic lesions were especially frequent. A pluriglandular syndrome consisting of multiple endocrine adenomas, intimately related to gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders as in man, was encountered in several animals. Carcinogenesis was associated with arteriosclerotic lesions and widespread atrophic changes. Shortening of the life span, mortality rate, in addition to variations in size, animal and organ weight were observed in all animals. (TCO)

Research Organization:
U.S. Army Medical Unit, Fort Detrick, Md.
NSA Number:
NSA-17-027094
OSTI ID:
4716307
Journal Information:
Exptl. Mol. Pathol., Journal Name: Exptl. Mol. Pathol. Vol. Vol: 2
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English