Vascular and epithelial damage in the lung of the mouse after X rays or neutrons
The response of the lung was studied in CFLP mice after exposure of the whole thorax to X rays (250 kVp) or cyclotron neutrons (16 MeV deuterons on Be, mean energy 7.5 MeV). To measure blood volume and leakage of plasma proteins, 51Cr-labeled red blood cells and 125I-albumin were injected intravenously and 24 h later lungs were lavaged via the trachea. Radioactivities in lung tissue and lavage fluid were determined to estimate the accumulation of albumin in the interstitial and alveolar spaces indicating damage to blood vessels and alveolar epithelium respectively. Function of type II pneumonocytes was assessed by the amounts of surfactant (assayed as lipid phosphorous) released into the lavage fluid. During the first 6 weeks, lavage protein and surfactant were increased, the neutron relative biological effectiveness (RBE) being unity. During pneumonitis at 12-24 weeks, surfactant levels were normal, blood volume was decreased, and both interstitial and alveolar albumin were increased. Albumin levels then decreased. At late times after exposure (42-64 weeks) alveolar albumin returned to normal but interstitial albumin was still slightly elevated. Values of RBE for changes in blood volume and interstitial and alveolar albumin at 15 weeks and for changes in blood volume and interstitial albumin at 46 weeks were 1.4, comparable with that for animal survival at 180 days. The results indicate that surfactant production is not critical for animal survival. They suggest that changes in blood vessels and alveolar epithelium occur during acute pneumonitis; epithelial repair follows but some vascular damage may persist. The time course of the changes in albumin levels did not correlate with increases in collagen biosynthesis which have been observed as early as 1 month after exposure and persist for up to 1 year.
- Research Organization:
- Hammersmith Hospital, London (England)
- OSTI ID:
- 6465862
- Journal Information:
- Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 117:1; ISSN RAREA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALBUMINS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BARYONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
BODY AREAS
BODY FLUIDS
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CHEST
CHROMIUM 51
CHROMIUM ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EPITHELIUM
ERYTHROCYTES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXTRACELLULAR SPACE
FERMIONS
HADRONS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 125
IODINE ISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LAVAGE
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICE
NEUTRONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PNEUMONITIS
PROTEINS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RBE
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SPACE
SURFACTANTS
SYNTHESIS
TISSUES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION