Difference in Reaction to X-Irradiation between Chicken and Rabbit Lens

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Abstract
The lens of the domestic hen, unlike that of many mammals, does not develop cataract after X-irradiation. A histological comparison was made between the irradiated lens epithelium of the embryo and adult hen and that of the rabbit. In both species X-irradiation first inhibits mitosis and then causes appearance of abnormal mitoses. In the rabbit lens many cells carrying micronuclei appear but no micronuclei were found in the lens epithelium of the irradiated chick, It is not known if this difference is related to the difference in cataract formation. Comparison of adenosinetriphosphat-ase, ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, chymotrypsin-esterase, gluta-thione and protein sulfhydryl showed no striking difference between the lenses of rabbits and chicks.