Abstract
Summary
The demonstration of dose-dependent increase in plasma deoxycytidine (CdR) in rats after their exposure to relatively low doses of X-rays, suggests that the quantitative determination of this compound as early as 4-hours postirradiation might be of value as a biologic dosimeter or indicator of radiation injury at sublethal doses. Significant elevations in plasma deoxycytidine levels were detected at X-ray doses as low as 25 or 50 R, with a positive dose-response relationship evident at doses up to 100 R. The rapid sampling possible with blood plasma, as well as the absence of significant interference by other UV absorbing substances would suggest that determination of levels of CdR and of other pyrimidines in man after therapeutic irradiation would be feasible and useful. Such studies are presently being pursued.
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