Induction of hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in C57BL mice by ionizing radiation.

Inbred strains of C57BL mice were exposed to either 100, 500, or 1000 rads of whole-body irradiation. Another group of mice were given injections of 3-methylcholanthrene only, and a control group had no treatment. Forty-eight hr after treatment, the animals were killed and hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity was measured by spectrophotofluorometer. A comparison of hepatic AHH activity in treated and nontreated groups of mice showed that each treated group had a significantly increased AHH induction compared with the control group. Although radiation appeared to have a dose-related effect on AHH induction, the increase with dose level was not statistically significant.