The Effect of Whole Body X-irradiation on the Blood and Other Tissues of White Leghorn Cockerels

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Abstract
White Leghorn cockerels were given levels of whole body X-irradiation ranging from 50 to 500 r at 6, 12 and 18 weeks of age. The irradiation was given at 160 kV, 10 mA, and with a target distance of 20 in. Half a millimeter of copper and 1 mm of aluminum were used to filter the rays which were delivered to the target at a rate of approximately 16 r/min. Blood samples were taken at 1, 3, 8 and 18 days after irradiation and were used to determine total red cell count, total white cell count, hemoglobin and white cell differentials. Irradiated birds not used for blood counts and hemoglobin determinations were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 5 weeks after irradiation in order to study the effects of irradiation upon certain tissues. All of the blood data indicate that in general the cockerel reacts to X-irradiation in a manner similar to other animals. The large number of basophils in the peripheral blood make the animal an excellent subject for a study of the effect of irradiation on this particular cellular element. Tissue damage was found to be similar to that reported for other animals. Irradiation damage was manifested in the seminiferous tubules of the testes as follows: (1) sperm scattered among the cells comprising the tubular walls; (2) a decrease in the number of sperm attached to Sertoli cells; (3) sperm oriented in an abnormal manner; (4) the presence of cell necrosis; and (5) a massive sloughing of cells in the tubules.

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