Resilience of the Fetal Eye Following Radiation Insult

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Abstract
The 13.5 day CF1 mouse fetus can tolerate an exposure of 300 r X-rays and come to term. Its eyes, however, by 4 hours after exposure show massive damage to the presumptive retina such that approximately half of the cells are pycnotic or have fragmented nuclei. Both the inner and outer nuclear zones are involved. At 24 hours post-radiation there is still evidence of necrosis. Phagocytosis at this time is clearing away cellular debris about as fast as it develops. Loose cells in the vitreous body are disappearing. By 72 hours after exposure the retina again appears quite normal. The reparative powers of the retina are achieved, not by recovery of radiation-damaged cells, which does not occur, but by proliferation of cells from the more radioresistant precursor neurectoderm cells.

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