Radiation Effects on Pneumococcal Infection Produced by Subcutaneous Injections into White Mice ∗ )

Abstract

Summary

Whole body x-irradiation of white mice with 350 r influenced an infection with pneumococci induced by subcutaneous inoculation as follows: 1. Little or no effect was observed when radiation exposure was given at the same time as the inoculation of the bacteria. 2. The time from inoculation to death, and the time required for bacteremia to become established, was reduced when radiation exposure was given 3 days prior to inoculation. The time from bacteremia to death was not changed. 3. The time from inoculation to death, and the time from bacteremia to death, was reduced when radiation exposure was given 6 days prior to inoculation. The time required for bacteremia to become established was not changed.