RESPONSE OF THE BLOOD CORPUSCLES IN HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RATS TO IRRADIATION WITH X-RAY1

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Abstract
Three weeks after hypophysectomy, young adult female rats were given one dose (500 r) of total body X-irradiation. The ensuing depression in the erythrocyte and reticulocyte counts, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration was more severe than in the non-hypo- physectomized, irradiated rats. During the 11-week period of observation, the erythrocyte count and hemoglobin concentration in hypophysectomized-irradiated rats returned toward the level of that shown by the nonirradiated hypophysectomized rats. The reticulocyte count and hematocrit equalled or surpassed the values for the latter group. Macrocytosis resulted from irradiation only in the hypophysectomized rats. The total leukocyte count fell to the same level in both hypophysectomized and non-hypophysectomized rats but showed greater recovery in the hypophysectomized-irradiated animals. It was concluded that the capacity of the blood-forming tissues to recover from the damaging effects of X-irradiation is not completely dependent on the action of pituitary hormones.