Haematological Effects of Ionizing Radiation in Cancerous Mice

Abstract

The life-span of erythrocytes of mice bearing solid growing Ehrlich tumours is not influenced by exposure of the animals to 150 and 550 rad 60Co y-radiation as determined with 1 4 C-glycine labelling. 1' 4 C-incorporation into haemin is depressed by about 20 per cent after 550 rad caused by bone marrow depression. 550 rad depress haematocrit, haemoglobin and blood volume values, 150 rad influence only blood volume. These changes are mainly caused by extravasation and subsequent destruction of erythrocytes, combined with bone marrow depression. Reticulocytes and white-cell values are clearly depressed by 150 rad. Cancerous mice did not show higher radiosenstivity with respect to the parameters studied as compared with normal mice. Cancerous erythrocytes did not differ in in vitro radiosensitivity from normal erythrocytes.