Bone growth in the rabbit after irradiation.

The effect on bone growth of two locally given, different, unfractionated radiation doses (0.1 and 24 Gy) was tested in a rabbit litter aged 57 days. The effects on growth were registered with roentgen stereophotogrammetric length measurements for 75 days after irradiation. Growth of the right irradiated tibia was compared with the growth of the left non-irradiated tibia. After 7 to 9 days, 24 Gy had caused a linear fall in growth to about 15 per cent. After a period of complete cessation, a slight growth was registered. 0.1 Gy had no significant growth retarding effect.