Effects of Total Body X-Irradiation on Some Constituents of Liver and Kidney of the Rat

Abstract

Summary

1. Lethal total body x-irradiation (1000 r and 880 r) of rats produced the following changes in certain constituents of the liver or kidney. 2. As early as 1 day after irradiation, both inorganic and labile phosphate (ATP) in the liver were definitely subnormal. The liver inorganic phosphorus remained at this low level through the third day after irradiation while the labile phosphate continued to fall slowly. On the fourth day, both inorganic and labile phosphate in the liver rose; the inorganic phosphorus approached the control level where it remained until death. The labile phosphate, however, reached the control range on about the fifth day after irradiation and apparently continued to rise slowly until death. In the kidney, the changes which occurred in phosphate distribution were not pronounced. 3. The fasting of rats immediately following total body x-irradiation resulted in what appeared to be a retarded rate of glycogenosis. After 24 hours fasting, following radiation, liver glycogen values were 2% as compared with 0.1% in the fasted non-irradiated group. In adrenalectomized animals the liver glycogen content was also found to be higher after irradiation and fasting than the liver glycogen content found after fasting only. 4. A definite increase in the sulfhydryl content was found in the liver of fasted x-irradiated animals as compared with non-irradiated fasted animals. Removal of the adrenals produced a decrease in the sulfhydryl content of the liver of fasted animals. It was further reduced by irradiation. No significant changes were observed in the sulfhydryl content of the kidney of normal rats after irradiation. 5. There was no significant effect of x-irradiation upon the sodium, potassium or the water content of the liver and kidney up to 48 hours after irradiation with perhaps the exception of a slight increase in the sodium in the kidney.