[The immunity indices of rats after the long-term action of tritium oxide or gamma irradiation].

In experiments with Wistar rats, a study was made of the content of antibody-forming cells and cytotoxic activity of normal killers after long-term administration of tritium oxide (3HOH) (370 kBq.g-1 of body mass daily, cumulative dose, 8.1 Gy, and dose rate, 8.5 cGy/day), and after gamma irradiation with corresponding doses. The long-term radiation effect caused a decrease in the immunity indices: the impairment of the immune reactions was more pronounced after the effect of 3HOH than after gamma irradiation. Damages to the immune system of mice and rats after irradiation with similar doses were compared.