Abstract
Anemia was produced in 18 adult dogs on a standard diet by subcutaneous injection of acetylphenylhydrazine (pyrodin). Eight animals were irradiated with the flaming carbon arc (Pan-Ray-Arc burning “Sunshine” carbons), 3 with the quartz mercury vapor lamp (Cooper-Hewitt), and the remainder served as controls.
Although there were variations in the reactions to pyrodin and to radiation the regeneration of the red cells was unquestionably faster in the irradiated group. The average count of the control group 23 days after the injection and 15 days after the lowest anemic level was 71% normal. The average value for the same number of irradiated animals that developed a comparable degree of anemia was 85% normal. The carbon and mercury arcs were equally effective. The difference in hemoglobin regeneration is not so marked, the average values 15 days after the lowest anemic level being 77% and 82% normal in the control and irradiated animals respectively. This relatively greater response of the red cells to irradiation was previously reported in studies on hemorrhagic anemia. No significant differences in reticulocytes, whites, platelets and red cell fragility were observed. The development of a tolerance to the drug on repeated injections invalidated attempts to use the same animal for control and irradiation periods.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.