150 



NEUTRON EFFECTS ON ANIMALS 



E, another group, XV, was irradiated, the 3rd group, XVI, was fed vitamin 

 E and was irradiated, and the 4th group, XIII, served as a control. The 

 vitamin E supplement was wheat-germ oil (Eli Lilly and Co.) and was given 

 orally in 0.5 cc. amounts every 2nd day beginning on the day that irradia- 

 tion was completed. The animals were irradiated (1) in Box No. 7. All 

 animals were killed on the 24th day after Groups XV and X^T were ir- 

 radiated. The moisture content of the testes Avas determined by weight 

 differences before and after drying at 100°C. 



The wet weight of the testes of the irradiated animals was found to be 

 reduced, regardless of vitamin E supplement (Table II). The moisture 



Group 



TABT.E II 



The Effect of Vitamin E on Tpuficular Injury by 56.4 n 



No. of 

 Rats 



Irradiation 



Vitamin E 



Average Animal Weight 



Initial 



Final 



Days Post- 

 Irradiation 



Average 



Wet Weight 



of One 



Testicle 



content of the testes was the same in all groups. Histopathological exam- 

 ination of the testes of the irradiated animals showed no difference in the 

 amoimt of injury in those that were given the vitamin E supplement and 

 those Avhich did not receive it. The supplement of wheat-germ oil had no 

 effect in preventing loss of weight of the rats following irradiation. The 

 experiment A\as repeated with the same number of animals, and the re- 

 sults were similar. 



These results do not preclude the possibility that pathological conditions 

 due to vitamin E deficiency and those produced by neutron radiation are 

 similar, since, following irradiation, absorption of vitamin E from the in- 

 testinal tract or the actual utilization of the vitamin by cells may be dis- 

 turbed. 



In order to eliminate the possibility of lack of effect because of non- 

 absorption from the intestinal tract, the vitamin E, in the form of a-toco- 



