INVESTIGATIONS ON THE GENESIS OF THYMUS ATROPHY AFTER X RADIATION. I. ORGAN WEIGHT AND HISTOLOGICAL MODIFICATIONS AFTER WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Strahlentherapie (West Germany)

OSTI ID:4817314

Hagen, U; Braun, H

The thymus of many rats was investigated to determine the ratio of injured and uninjured cells within the first 24 hours after whole body irradiation with 1000 r. This has been done to find fundamental rules for the biochemical investigations about the cell death after x-ray irradiation. The thymus loses weight rapidly after a latent tlme of 3 hours. This first weight loss down to 70% of the control is completed after 6 to 8 hours. A second, slower weight loss starts 12 hours after the irradiation, lasting 3 to 4 days. Counting of the uninjured and the pycnotic cell nuclei in , that the first weight loss is caused by emigration of apparently uninjured cells; the second loss is caused by gradual fragmentation of the dead cells. The pycnosis of the eell nucleus, which is a dlstinct visible sign of the cell death does not start immedlately after the irradiatlon. There is a latent time of about 2 hours. All those cells, which were injured irreversibly by the radiation energy show a pycnotic nucleus 6 hours after the irradiation. (auth)

• Research Organization: Universitat, Freiburg i. B.; and Heiligenberg-Instituts, Heiligenberg, Ger.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-008620
• OSTI ID: 4817314
• Journal Information: Strahlentherapie (West Germany), Journal Name: Strahlentherapie (West Germany) Vol. Vol: 116; ISSN STRAA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: German

Related Subjects

ANIMAL CELLS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CELL NUCLEI
CYTOLOGY
PYCNOSIS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RATS
THYMUS
WEIGHT
X RADIATION