The Effects of γ Irradiation on Embryonic Bone and Cartilage in Vitro

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Culture methods were used to investigate the effects of ionizing irradiation on bone and cartilage of calvaria and radii of 18 day old embryonic rats. The radii were studied histologically after 2 days of culture following the irradiation. A number of changes were observed. Decrease in growth of the bone collar and of the total rudiment together with an inhibition of the development of the marrow cavity was established after a radiation absorbed dose of 500-1000 rad. The differences in length and sometimes in thickness of the bone collar between the control and the irradiated explants showed an inhibitory effect of irradiation on bone formation. This finding was corroborated by biochemical experiments with embryonic calvaria in which an inhibition of 14C-proline incorporation into the insoluble collagen fraction was found. A stimulation of ectopic matrix deposition in the primitive marrow cavity of irradiated radii was often found. An absorbed dose of 6000 rad did not appear to have a specific effect on the parathyroid hormone action at the receptor level, but did damage a number of its physiological expressions.