Characterization of abnormal nuclei in renal proximal tubules after irradiation.

The distribution and kinetics of proximal tubular cells with abnormally large nuclei, which were observed in irradiated mouse kidneys before any other obvious histological effects, were investigated. Six months after the administration of 13 or 15 Gy, little histopathological change was noted, in the kidneys of C3H mice; however, proliferation of proximal tubular cells was stimulated, and some of these cells had abnormally large nuclei. The relative DNA content of these large nuclei was measured with a quantitative image analysis system. Most of the large nuclear cells had more than diploid DNA content. The labeling index of the large nuclei was higher than that of unselected proximal tubular nuclei. These cells might be hyperploid cells that are dying after having gone through an abortive mitotic division. Examination and quantitation of these abnormal nuclei should be useful in elucidating the steps involved in cell loss in the proximal tubules after irradiation and as an assay for radiation damage to the kidney.