EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON INTESTINAL ABSORPTION

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

OSTI ID:4808823

Bond, V P

A review is given on the physiological and pathological changes that occur in the gastrointestinal tract following exposure to penetrating radiations. Relatively small doses of radiation produce transient but marked changes in gastric emptying time, and in gastrointestinal motility. At higher, but sublethal doses, transient effects on the gastrointestinal epithelium occur in the first few days, resulting from damage to dividing crypt cells. In the lethal range, pathological changes in the mucosa, secondary to infection and hemorrhage, occur in the second week or later. At supralethal doses, the intestinal villi are denuded completely of epithelium just prior to death, on the 3rd to 5th day. Gastrointestinal death following whole-body irradiation appears to be due, at least in part, to a terminal loss of electrolytes and water into and through the denuded intestine. (P.C.H.)

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(30-2)-GEN-16
• NSA Number: NSA-16-028742
• OSTI ID: 4808823
• Report Number(s): BNL-5340
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CYTOLOGY
ELECTROLYTES
HEMORRHAGE
INTESTINE
LETHAL DOSE
LIFETIME
MITOSIS
PHYSIOLOGY
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
STOMACH
WATER