The Response of the Skin of Swine to Increasing Absorbed Doses of the 10 B(n,α) 7 Li Reaction: Histologic and Cytologic Changes

Abstract

Sequential histologic changes and several cellular parameters were measured in two 10-cm in diameter fields following the ${}^{10}{\rm B}(n,\alpha) {}^{7}{\rm Li}$ reaction. In one field receiving an estimated dose of 1250 rads a moist reaction was formed that failed to heal. In the second field receiving an estimated absorbed dose of 950 rads a moist reaction was formed which healed. During the first 20 days following irradiation there was a progressive loss of epidermal cells accompanied by an increase in the nuclear volume, a change in the mitotic index, and increase in capillary diameters. In the field that did not heal the increase in nuclear volume was fivefold, the mitotic index went to zero and remained there. In the case of the field that healed the increase in nuclear volume was fourfold at 21 days. During the 1st week following irradiation there was a wave of abnormal mitoses, followed by reduction of the mitotic index to zero. During the interval from 20 to 27 days the epidermis was regenerat...