Abstract
Neonatal rats were injected with neurocarcinogenic amounts of ethylnitrosourea (ENU) and whole-body X-irradiated 24 h later. An absorbed radiation dose of 1.25 Gy [gray] caused a statistically significant decrease in the incidence of nervous system tumors induced by ENU (10 mg/kg). Absorbed doses of 0.2 Gy or 1.25 Gy given after ENU (4 mg/kg) also reduced their incidence, but not significantly so. The X-irradiation did not affect the range of histological appearances among the tumors but malignant Schwannomas, particularly those of the trigeminal nerve, were significantly reduced by 1.25 Gy given after ENU (10 mg/kg). The mean latency for clinical signs of tumor appearance was not affected by radiation. A small number of nervous system tumors occurred in rats given neonatal X-radiation only, and it seems highly likely that these were radiation-induced.

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