The Response of Dogs to Bilateral Whole-Body Co 60 Irradiation: II. Pathophysiological Manifestations

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Abstract
The midline tissue LD 50/30 dose for young adult dogs exposed to single bilateral doses of Co60 gamma radiation was 350 r, with 95% confidence limits of 323 to 374 r. The mean survival time was 18.2 [plus or minus] 0.4 days. Analysis of the change in total circulating leukocytes for each group during the 30-day post exposure period showed a significant difference between survivors and decedents. Platelet levels decreased, were minimal by the end of the 2d week with little or no change during the 3d post-exposure week, after which recovery started; reaching about 60% of the pre-irradiation level by the 28th day. Departure of clotting time from normal was first observed from the 7th to the 10th post-irradiation day. All animals that died showed a cessation of clot retraction while one-third of the survivors showed a similar manifestation. Hematocrit values decreased gradually with the mean maximum decrease among survivors occurring about day 21. From the 10th day onward, the hematocrit value of decedent animals decreased more rapidly than for survivors and reached about 50% of pre-irradiation level. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases occurred late in the 2d week after exposure and progressed into the 3d post-exposure week. Mucoprotein levels increased exponentially from about 3 days ante-mortem until death. The incidence of positive blood cultures for bacteriology was 1%, which is much less than that usually reported for X-irradiated dogs. Properdin titers decreased after irradiation and returned to near normal limits among survivors.

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