The stunting of growth in young rabbits injected with strontium 90.

Abstract

SummaryThe effect of an injection of 90Sr on the growth of young rabbits was studied. Two levels of injection were used, 100 µc of 90Sr per kilogram of body-weight, and 600 µc/kg. The animals were killed at various time-intervals after injection, up to 180 days later.Measurements were made on the terminal body-weight, weight of the femur and tibia, and length of the tibia, both for injected animals and controls. All the four measurements on the animals which received 600 µc/kg showed significant stunting of growth, while the animals injected with 100 µc/kg were not significantly different from the controls. The growth of the proximal epiphyseal cartilage plate of the tibia, during the first few weeks after injection, was also measured radiographically: the animals with 600 µc/kg again showed significant stunting of growth.Some observations on the radiation dosimetry and pathology of the animals are discussed briefly.