Effects of chronic pulmonary irradiation on peripheral lymphocytes and their function in the dog. [/sup 144/Ce]

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3574874· OSTI ID:6716816

Benjamin, S A; Hahn, F F; Boecker, B B

Beagle dogs were exposed by inhalation to /sup 144/Ce in fused aluminosilicate particles, a relatively insoluble, inert carrier material. The radioactive particles deposited in the deep lung resulted in chronic irradiation of the pulmonary and adjacent thoracic tissues. Dogs exposed to high levels of /sup 144/Ce in fused aluminosilicate particles received more than 25,000 rad to lung by 3 yr after exposure. They developed a severe and persistent lymphopenia, and their remaining peripheral lymphocytes showed a decreased ability to respond to plant mitogens in vitro. The lymphopenia and the functional defect in the remaining lymphocytes suggested that an immunologic suppression existed in these dogs. Many lymphocytes were being killed in vivo by the radiation but another population was present that was viable in vivo but died when placed in vitro, accounting for at least part of the reduction in response to plant mitogens. No plasma factor was found that could account for the reduced lymphocyte transformation. The /sup 144/Ce-exposed dogs developed a high incidence of primary pulmonary hemangiosarcomas between 1 and 5 yr after exposure. This suggests that carcinogenesis after intrapulmonary deposition of radionuclides may result from a combination of the direct carcinogenic effect and the immunosuppressive effect of the irradiation.

• Research Organization: Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM
• OSTI ID: 6716816
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 75:1; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560162* -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABUNDANCE
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CERIUM 144
CERIUM ISOTOPES
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
CHRONIC IRRADIATION
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISEASES
DOGS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEMIC DISEASES
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
LEUKOCYTES
LEUKOPENIA
LUNGS
LYMPHOCYTES
LYMPHOPENIA
MAMMALS
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE EARTH ISOTOPES
RARE EARTH NUCLEI
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SOMATIC CELLS
SYMPTOMS
VERTEBRATES