Mortality of Monkeys after Exposure to Fission Neutrons and the Effect of Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation

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Abstract
To assess the risk of exposure to ionizing radiation in man and to evaluate the results of therapeutic measures, the mortality of rhesus monkeys irradiated with X-rays and fission neutrons and the effect of autologus bone marrow transplantation were investigated. The LD50/30day values for X- and neutron-irradiated monkeys amounted to 525 and 260 rad, respectively, resulting in an rbe [relative biological effectiveness] of approximately 2 for the occurrence of the bone marrow syndrome. Protection of the animals by autologous bone marrow transplantation was observed up to doses of 860 rad of X-rays and 440 rad of fission neutrons. After both fission-neutron irradiation and X-irradiation in the lowest range of lethal doses, the bone marrow syndrome occurred without the concurrent incidence of the intestinal syndrome. For humans accidentally exposed to what would otherwise be lethal doses of fast neutrons, bone marrow transplantation may be beneficial.