Dynamics of temperature and body weight in irradiated mice: the dose-effect and time-effect relationships

Abstract

In an experiment on outbred male ICR CD-1 mice irradiated at a wide range of doses of gamma irradiation 60Co from 7.4 to 9.4 Gy with a 30-day survival rate from 100 to 5%, the dose-effect and time-effect relationships in relation to animals’ temperature and body mass index during acute radiation sickness were studied. The latent phase of acute radiation sickness is already related to a decrease in body temperature, which is determined using a remote infrared thermometer, in presence of body weight loss. A maximum dose-dependent fall in body temperature was observed in the critical phase of acute radiation sickness, when animals die in large numbers. In the recovery phase, body temperature returned to normal with subsequent body weight gain. Body temperature of irradiated mice is considered as an important criterion for their asthenia and can be used both in theoretical and applied studies.