Abstract
Summary
Measurements of the adenosine triphosphatase activity, the 5-nucleotidase activity, the desoxyribonucleic acid concentration, citric acid synthesis and the histologic appearance of the spleens of rats given 800 r of whole body x-irradiation and the same dose of x-ray to the exteriorized spleens with the remainder of the body shielded were made. Shielding the body during irradiation of spleen prevented the large increases in the activity of phosphatases which occur in the spleen after whole body irradiation. Prevention of the inhibitory effect of x-ray on citrate synthesis and a much smaller decrease in desoxyribonucleic acid content of the spleen as well as less severe histologic changes were observed in the spleens of body shielded rats. The results of this study indicate that x-ray does not exert a direct effect on the enzymes involved in the biochemical reactions which were studied.
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