STUDIES ON RADIATION INJURY TO DOMESTIC ANIMALS BY RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS : I. EFFECT OF INTERNAL IRRADIATION ON THE CHICKEN BY P³² (2)

Abstract

Phosphorus 32 was administered to the chicken for the study of radiation injury by internal irradiation by P³². Following is the result of our experiment. 1) As the result of a single administration of doses beyond 3μc/g, we found the chicken died and 80% of the animals as the result of a dose of 5μc/g and all of them in the case of a dose of 10μc/g died. 2) The curve of the rate of weight gain was inhibited according to the increase in the dosage of P³². For example, the inhibition was slight for a dose of 1μc/g (minimum dose tested), while the body weight did not increase at all in the case of 10μc/g (maximum dose tested). 3) Weight of organs changed by the irradiation. It decreased in spleen, thymus and testicle, on the contrary it increased in liver, kidney and heart. 4) Food intake was inhibited by doses beyond 5μc/g, but water intake was not affected by any dose tested. 5) There was no remarkable change to be noted in body temperature, respiration rate and heart rate. 6) Blood hemoglobin, hematocrit value showed a remarkable decrease, and in some cases it decreased to about 10% of the control value. 7) In the study on plasma protein, the increased value of albumin was observed the initial period after administration, and a durated increase of globulin was observed over a period of twenty days. 8) Blood sugar after administration of P³² gradually increased in the course of time. 9) The results of the glucose tolerance test showed delay of recovery on the curve of glucose tolerance curve. As above mentioned, the internal irradiation by P³² affected remarkable the hematogenic organ, while other organs were noticeably less affected. In conclusion, presumptions of irradiated doses described in previous paper met with our experiment.