Chapter 20 



CHANGES PRODUCED IN TESTES, SPLEEN, BONE MARROW, 

 LIVER AND KIDNEYS OF RATS BY NEUTRON 



RADIATION 



By J. O. ELY, M. H. ROSS, and DOUGLAS M. GAY 



Little has been reported in the Hteratiire concerning the histological 

 changes produced in tissues by neutron radiation although many reports 

 have demonstrated the intense biological effects of this type of radiation. 



Lawrence and Tennant (1) reported on the histological changes produced 

 in various organs of mice 1-5 days after lethal doses of neutron radiation. 

 They found no qualitative difference between the injuries produced by 

 neutron and X-radiation. 



Yamashita (2, 3) described effects of neutron radiation on several organs 

 of immature rats at intervals up to 4 weeks after irradiation. 



This report is an account of some studies on the effects of neutron radia- 

 tion on several organs of rats observed over comparatively long periods of 

 time. Effects on testes and spleen received greatest attention; studies of 

 effects on liver and kidneys were coincidental; those on bone marrow are 

 incomplete, but the available results are included. 



EXPERIMENTAL 



Testes 



A. Changes in Weight. Four groups (Nos. 2-5 in Table I) of male rats 

 were given 17.5, 32.5, 47.5 and 62.5 n respectively (Enns et al. (4)) in Box 

 No. 7, the total dose being given in one day. Group 1 served as a control 

 group. Thirty-five days later the animals were killed. One testicle from 

 each rat was used for histological examination; the other was weighed 

 and the moisture content determined. Six other groups of rats (Nos. 7-10, 

 12 and 13) were given 56.4, 56.4, 60, 120, 180 and 240 n respectively. The 

 56.4 n doses were administered in Box No. 7, the other doses in Box No. 4. 

 Groups 6 and 11 served as controls. 



The testes of the rats from groups 2-5 were much reduced in weight, 

 but no significant difference was found in their moisture content. There 

 was a marked decrease in testicle weight in relation to body weight in 

 groups 12 and 13 in 22 to 24 days after the administration of 56.4 n and in 

 group 7 after 60 n. At the higher irradiation levels (120 to 240 n) the ani- 

 mals died, presumably before any change in weight could occur, since 



170 



