The Effects of Radiant Energy on Experimental Hemolytic Anemia

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Abstract
Anemia was produced in twenty-four adult dogs on a standard diet by the subcutaneous injection of acetylphenylhydrazine pyrodin, the dosage being calculated in terms of red cell volume and varying from 40 to 100 mg. per 100 cc. of red cells. Eight animals were irradiated with the flaming carbon arc burning “Sunshine” carbons, five with the quartz mercury lamp and the remainder served as controls. No significant differences in the rate of development or in the severity of the anemia were observed in the irradiated and non-irradiated animals. Some degree of anemia, coincident with an increase in the icteric index, was present in all cases at the end of 24 hours. The anemia became most marked in from 5 to 9 days, the red cell and hemoglobin determinations at this time showing values of from 15 to 82 per cent of the original levels. Single injections produced a similar degree but a more rapid development of the anemia than did divided doses of the same amount. Marked increases in reticulocytes and platelets occurred, and, in many cases, these constituents showed a further secondary rise at the beginning of regeneration. The corpuscular volume increased and remained high. The resistance of the cells to hypotonic sodium oxalate increased gradually and was greatest at the height of the anemia. The regeneration of the red cells and hemoglobin was unquestionably faster in the irradiated group, the carbon and mercury arcs being equally effective. The average cell and hemoglobin values of eight animals of the control group 23 days after the injection and 15 days after the lowest anemic level were 72 and 77 per cent normal respectively. The average values for the same number of irradiated animals that developed a comparable degree of anemia were 87 and 86 per cent normal. No significant differences in reticulocytes, whites, platelets and red cell fragility were observed.

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