Accession Number:
AD0806757
Title:
THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO AIRBORNE INFECTIONS FOLLOWING CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TO LOW DOSE RATE GAMMA RADIATION
Descriptive Note:
Annual progress rept. 1 Jan-31 Dec 1966
Corporate Author:
NAVAL RADIOLOGICAL DEFENSE LAB SAN FRANCISCO CA
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
1967-02-01
Pagination or Media Count:
71.0
Abstract:
Continuous exposure to Co60 gamma irradiation delivered at 1.0-1.5 radhour increases the susceptibility of mice to subcutaneous and airborne infections with strains of Listeria monocytogenes and Pasteurella tularensis of relatively low virulence for non-irradiated mice. Although the irradiated mice were found to be fully as capable as non-irradiated mice of synthesizing antibodies against sheep red blood cells and of rejecting foreign skin grafts, survivors of an initial infection were less resistant to subsequent infection than non-irradiated mice. Data previously reported, together with the data from these experiments, suggest that macrophages of irradiated animals are readily injured by bacteria or their products. Hence, even immune macrophages may be unable to effectively destroy the invading bacteria. Preliminary results indicated that the protective effect of WR-1607, a radioprotective chemical may be abolished by subsequent infection with Pasteurella tularensis.
Descriptors:
Subject Categories:
- Medicine and Medical Research
- Radiobiology