The Acute Radiation Syndrome in Dogs after Total-Body Exposure to a Supralethal Dose of Ionizing Radiation (Co 60 LD 100/88 hours )

Abstract

Changes in the following variables were measured in two groups of dogs before and after exposure to a supralethal dose of gamma -radiation LD/sub 100/ 88/ hr: (1) blood picture. (2) serum protein and electrolyte levels, (3) measured and estimated total blood volume and ratio F cells, (4) clearance of rose bengal as an estimate of hepatic blood now, and 15) clearance of Diodrast as a measure of renal blood flow. - I group I measurements were made at daily intevals until exitus, and the results from each dog were compared with its preirradiation baseline values and with those from a shamtreated group; in group 2, in order to minimize blood toss from sampling, only baseline and premortal determinations were made. I both groups, after proper allowance was made for sampling deficits, the results were similar. (1) The well-known changes in the leukocyte picture were again observed: early abortive leukocytosis was followed by rapidty progressive leukopenia until only a negligible number of white cells were present at 12 to 18 hr before death. (2) No significant changes in serum etectrolyte or protein levels were obseved that could be interpreted as contributing to the death of the animal. (3) Significant reductionsmore » in total blood volume brought about by a reduction in red cell mass and a relatively greater reduction in plasma volume occurred only in the premortal stage (10 hr or less before death) and onty in a few instances were the reductions in blood volume of the magnitude to be considered intolerable. (4) Both hepatic and renal blood flow were well-maintained until shortly before death, when a general coltapse of the circulation occurred. (auth)« less