HEMATOLOGIC EFFECTS OF RADIATION 



1057 



radioelements such as radioiodine, which localizes promptly in the thy- 

 roid gland. 



PHOSPHORUS (P 32 ) 



Jacobson, Skirmont, et al. (1948) studied the effect of a single intra- 

 peritoneal injection of 1 juc/g of body weight of P 32 on normal and poly- 

 cythemic rats. A significant depression of leukocyte values per cubic 

 millimeter was produced in both groups. No apparent effect was pro- 

 duced on the hemoglobin, erythrocyte, or hematocrit values in either 

 group. On the basis of hematologic data, no apparent difference in the 

 sensitivity of the hematopoietic system to a single dose of P 32 (1 juc/g) or 

 to 300 r of total-body X irradiation was evident in rats (Fig. 16-14). 



90 



80 



70 



£ 30 



20 



10 



COBALT 

 ADMINISTRATION, 



COBALT + P 32 



P 32 ONLY 



X RAY ONLY 



_L 



8 



16 



24 32 40 48 56 64 

 TIME AFTER TREATMENT, days 



J 



72 



^0 



-90 -60 -30 



DAYS BEFORE 



TREATMENT 



Fig. 16-14. The effect of 300 r of total-body X irradiation or a single dose of P 32 (1 

 fic/g of body weight) on the hematocrit values of normal rats and those having cobalt- 

 induced polycythemia. 



However, after a total dose of 4.5 /xc/g of body weight given intraperi- 

 toneal^ in 1.5-Mc/g doses every three weeks, Bethard, Skirmont, and 

 Jacobson (1950) reported a decrease in hematocrit and hemoglobin values 

 by the twenty-second week, which reached a low level by twenty-eight 



weeks. 



Warren and Dixon (1949) studied the hematologic effect of radiophos- 

 phorus on developing chicks (6-28 days). In 6-day-old chicks, given 

 subcutaneously 235 nc of phosphorus, a rapid decrease in lymphocytes, 

 reaching less than 1000/cu mm in 4 days, occurred followed by a gradual 

 increase to normal values by 55 days. The erythrocytes fell gradually 

 the first 8 days, dropped sharply to 0.63 million/cu mm by 15 days, and 



