THE USE OF CR51 AS A CRITERION OF THYMOCYTE REGENERATION AFTER WHOLE BODY X-IRRADIATION

The uptake of Cr51 chromate by thymocytes in vitro after whole body X-irradiation can be used as a sensitive quantitative criterion not only for the evaluation of early radiation damage to these cells but also as a measure of later regeneration. The development of the radiation lesion is characterized by a reduction in the in vitro uptake of Cr51 and the later regeneration of new cells by an increase in Cr51 uptake which is probably due to increased uptake of Cr51 by the young newly formed cells in the damaged tissue which is proliferating in an attempt to repair the damage. The return of the Cr51 uptake to normal is an indication of the time required for the cell population (ratio of young to older cells) to return to normal. By this technique the effect of different doses of X-irradiation on the regeneration of thymocytes has been demonstrated. Treatment with AET before whole body X-irradiation (400 r) indicated that less regeneration was necessary but the recovery time remained unchanged. Age differences produced a change in the extent of repair or regeneration but no change in recovery time. Spermatozoa showed evidence of early damage after whole body X-irradiation. This damage increased with time with no evidence of increased regeneration or repair. (Author) Pub. in Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology v43 p19-27 1965 (Copies available only to DDC users).