The Chronological Development of Late Radiation Injury in the Liver of the Rat

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Abstract
Surgically exteriorized left anterior liver lobes of rats were X-irradiated with 8 kR, and changes in liver wt and histology were evaluated for 40 wk after irradiation. Irradiation prevented growth in the irradiated lobe. A decrease in irradiated lobe wt occurred approximately 14 wk after irradiation and was associated with parenchymal cell loss. Inflammatory cell infiltration into the associated irradiated lobe occurred immediately after irradiation and remained constant for 12 wk after which a further increase in numbers of inflammatory cells occurred. Fibrosis was apparent by 2 wk and exhibited a 2nd increase in severity after 12 wk. Nuclear injury in some parenchymal cells was apparent in the irradiated lobe, especially after 24 wk. Concentric lamellations in the veins with compromise of their lumen became evident after the 10th wk. The temporal response of these alterations and other reports on late radiation effects suggest that early liver injury (0-12 wk) is associated with an autoimmune reaction. The more extensive liver injury occurring later (16-40 wk) is from more direct radiation damage to the vasculature.