Abstract
Summary
1. Mice were challenged intraperitoneally with S. enteritidis over a 30-day period following exposure to 50-350 r whole body X-radiation. A very marked increase in susceptibility to infection was observed as early as 8 hours after irradiation with 250-350 r, but not after 50 r. This increase in susceptibility cannot be explained by granulocytopenia at the time of injection, since granulocytosis was observed in peripheral blood of mice at this post-irradiation period. 2. A very marked increase in susceptibility to intraperitoneal inoculation with E. coli was observed one day following irradiation with 200-450 r. This gradually declined but was still evident 60 days after exposure to 450 r, and 11 days after exposure to 200-350 r. After exposure to 50 r, the single peak of susceptibility to E. coli occurred in 11 days. 3. The relationship of the route of inoculation and the post-irradiation time to the degree of susceptibility to infection is discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.