BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES DUE TO THE EFFECT OF LARGE DOSES OF IONIZING RADIATION

The decrease in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) due to large doses of ionizing radiation is detected sooner, and the fall is greater in bone marrow than in the rest of the tissues studied. The average decresse in the DNA level in the various tissues of the animals dying in the ionizing radiation field was 38%, while that in bone marrow was 50%. The greatest nucleic acid decresse was in bone marrow, then in spleen, and then liver. Changes in nucleic acids find in brain tissue and in eggs were not significant. The extent of DNA and RNA decrease in tissues wss linked to the duration of animal survival. Irradiation of animals in powerful fields or ionizing radiation induced f DNA. These changes were substantiated by decreased DNA nitrogen content. Total irradiation of dogs by very large doses or ionizing radiation produced a manifold increase in the nonprotein nitrogen of blood serum. A rise in the serum protein level was observed in all animals subjected to radiation doses of 15-240 kr. Adenosinetriphosphate activity in the bone marrow decreased 50% 5 hours after irradiation with 50 kr, but no changes were detected in spleen, liver, or brain enzyme activity.more » (auth)« less