Granulocytic Recovery in the Polycythemic Dog Treated with Endotoxin Postirradiation

The experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that, in hypertransfused dogs with suppressed erythropoiesis, endotoxin-induced increased muelopoietic stimulation 24 hours after irradiation would enhance leukocytic recovery. The treatment combination of transfusion polycythemia and endotoxin was compared to a control group receiving no therapy or to the results obtained from groups of dogs receiving each treatment alone. The radiation exposure was 150 rads of total body x rays. An accentuated abortive rise in the group receiving the combined treatment, accelerated recovery in both groups receiving endotixin, and impaired leukocytic recovery in the polycythemic animals were observed. Accentuated depression of platelets and splenic enlargement inversely correlated with the platelet levels were observed in the animals receiving transfusion therapy regardless of whether they received endotoxin. It is felt that the data support the concept of interdependence between the various cell lines of hematopoiesis in an experimental model not previously described.