The Effects of Cyclotron Neutrons on the Intact Mouse Thymus under Normal and Hypoxic Conditions

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Mice have been irradiated with fast neutrons (mean energy 6 MeV) under normal and hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia was induced by brief periods of nitrogen breathing. Observations of the thymus weight 2 days later gave an oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) of 1.7 [plus or minus] 0.2. Earlier irradiations with 8 MeV electrons gave an OER of 2.7 [plus or minus] 0.3. This gives a gain factor of 1.6 [plus or minus] 0.2. The RBE [relative biological effectiveness] relative to 8 MeV electrons is 2.35 in air and 3.82 in nitrogen.