Opinions regarding the radiosensitivity of the liver, based on clinical and experimental studies, differ widely. No comprehensive study of the immediate effects of severe local X irradiation upon the cytology of the liver parenchyma has been previously undertaken. In the present investigation cytological studies were made upon the livers of hamsters at 4-hr. intervals over a 24-hr. period. It was demonstrated that the amounts of cytoplasmic basophilia, glycogen, and sudanophilic fat show a cyclic variation over the 24-hr. period studied. Adult hamsters were exposed to X rays at the rate of 495 r. per minute with a total dosage of 2000 r. The field size over the liver was 4 cm. by 2 cm. with the rest of the body protected by a lead shield. Following irradiation the animals were sacrificed, two at a time, at 4 hr. intervals over a 24-hr. period. The amounts of basophilic material in the cytoplasm of the parenchymal cells of the liver were considerably decreased at 8 hr. and at 16 hr. after irradiation. At other times the cytoplasmic basophilia of the irradiated liver cells was approximately as dense as that of the control animals. The density of cytoplasmic basophilia showed a cyclic variation approximating that of the controls. The amount of glycogen in the irradiated livers was very much decreased, but still showed a cyclic fluctuation. There was a striking decrease in the amount of sudanophilic fat in the liver cells following irradiation. The results indicate that severe local X irradiation of the liver of the hamster has immediate effects directly upon that organ, resulting in a disturbance of its normal physiological activities.
Acute Response of Pig Skin to Irradiation with 12C-ions or 200 kV X-rays