Intestinal radiation syndrome: sepsis and endotoxin

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3576503· OSTI ID:5707458

Geraci, J P; Jackson, K L; Mariano, M S

Rats were whole-body irradiated with 8-MeV cyclotron-produced neutrons and /sup 137/Cs ..gamma.. rays to study the role of enteric bacteria and endotoxin in the intestinal radiation syndrome. Decrease in intestinal weight was used as an index of radiation-induced breakdown of the mucosa. Neutron and ..gamma..-ray doses that were sublethal for intestinal death resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in intestinal weight, reaching minimal values 2 to 3 days after exposure, followed by recovery within 5 days after irradiation. Neutron and photon doses that caused intestinal death resulted in greater mucosal breakdown with little or no evidence of mucosal recovery. The presence of fluid in the intestine and diarrhea, but not bacteremia or endotoxemia, were related to mucosal breakdown and recovery. Neither sepsis nor endotoxin could be detected in liver samples taken at autopsy from animals which died a short time earlier from intestinal injury. These results suggest that overt sepsis and endotoxemia do not play a significant role in the intestinal radiation syndrome.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington, Seattle
• OSTI ID: 5707458
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 101:3; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ANIMALS
ANTIGENS
BACTERIA
BACTERIAL DISEASES
BARYONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DIARRHEA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENDOTOXINS
ESCHERICHIA COLI
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
GAMMA RADIATION
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HADRONS
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
KLEBSIELLA
LACTOBACILLUS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
MICROORGANISMS
MUCOUS MEMBRANES
NEUTRONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PROTEUS
RADIATION SYNDROME
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RATS
RODENTS
SEPTICEMIA
STAPHYLOCOCCUS
STREPTOCOCCUS
SYMPTOMS
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXINS
VERTEBRATES
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES