[Postradiation changes in count and contact properties of neutrophilic granulocytes of the bone marrow in short-term culture].

A study was made of adherence to plastic Petri dishes and viability (as non-pyknotic cell counts) of rat bone marrow cells cultured for 5 to 22 h in 199 medium containing 15 per cent fresh isologous serum. An overall decrease in the number of viable myelokaryocytes, including mature neutrophils, was observed in the cultures irradiated with doses of 3 to 12 Gy. In addition, gamma-irradiation increased substantially the adherence of neutrophils and, to a lesser extent, of other myelokaryocytes. A possibility of early radiation-induced disturbances in granulocytic maturation is discussed.