Effects of low dose gamma-ray irradiation on peripheral leukocyte counts and spleen of mice.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of low dose gamma-ray irradiation on peripheral leukocyte counts and spleen weight of mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred male mice of ICR strain were divided into four groups. Group A served as normal control. Groups B, C and D, the experimental groups were treated with 5, 50 and 100 cGy (exposure dose in air) of whole body gamma-ray irradiation respectively. The leukocyte counts and its differential counts, body weight and the spleen weight of mice were measured on days 1, 5, 12, 19, 26 and 33 after irradiation. The relative spleen weight derived from the data of body weight and spleen weight was also calculated in tested animals.

RESULTS

The leukocytes and its differential counts and relative spleen weight in mice decreased after 100 cGy gamma-ray irradiation. Fifty cGy gamma-ray irradiation could inhibit the leukocyte and its differential counts. The lowest dose, 5 cGy had no considerable damage.

CONCLUSIONS

One hundred cGy of 137Cs gamma-ray irradiation had an inhibitory effect on counts of total leukocyte, lymphocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, spleen weight and body weight, while 50 cGy gamma-ray irradiation had an evident inhibition on peripheral leukocytes and its differential counts in mice. However, 5 cGy gamma-ray irradiation had no obvious inhibition in the tested mice in the period of the investigation.