THERE are distinct advantages in the use of amphibians as experimental animals for the study of the biologic effects of x-ray irradiation. This is especially true for the larval form of the M\exican salamander axolotl (Siredon mexicanumn), which are excellent laboratory animals and can be easily raised from eggs under laboratory conditions. Their comparatively small size makes them very convenient for irradiation and for histologic examination.Our previous investigations (Brunst,3' 4and Brunst, Barnett, and Figge5 6) have shown that the reactions of tissues of axolotls to irradiation in general are very similar to such reactions in mouse tissues. Therefore, these results are significant not only for amphibians, but may also apply to higher forms. The radiobiologic literature contains a number of papers describing the effect of x-ray irradiation on teeth (Leist,These papers describe such effects of x-rays as the suppression of growth of teeth, delay in the eruption of teeth, retardation of both enamel and dentin formation, the effects of x-rays on the odontoblasts and indirect effects on the teeth of mammals. We cannot find any work in the literature describing the effects of irradiation on the teeth of amphibians. The purpose of this work was to investigate effects of x-ray irradiation on the teeth of young axolotls.
MATERIAL AND METHODSThe animals were divided into 2 age groups. In the first group, 5 animals were irradiated with 2000 r 20 days after hatching, and 9 animals were irradiated with 4000 r 22 days after hatching (Vig. 2). In the second age group, 22 animals were irradiated with 3000 r 60 days after hatching (Fig. 3).During irradiation of the lower jaw, the upper jaw and skull were protected by a small lead plate which was inserted into the mouth of the anesthetized animal. The triangular lead plate was 1.5 mm. thick at the base, but at the tip, which was inserted into the mouth, it was approximately 0.5 mm thick ( Fig. 1B and C). The bodies of the experimental animals were protected by a lead plate, 4 mm. thick. Irradiations were made through a 2 cm. width Vocalizer slit. The position of the animals during irradiation is shown
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