Effects of X-rays on Rat Liver: Behaviour of Adenine Nucleotides, Water and Total Lipids

Summary

The effects of x-irradiation on water, lipid and adenine-nucleotide contents of the rat liver and on the incorporation in vivo of inorganic ³²P into liver adenine nucleotides have been studied. Irradiation was localized to a single hepatic lobe, the body and the remainder of the liver being shielded and used as control.

30 min before killing at 3, 6 and 12 hours after irradiation, the animals were injected intraperitoneally with inorganic ³²P-phosphate.

Some experiments have been carried out on livers of total-body-irradiated rats killed after 6 hours.

A comparison of the local irradiated lobes with the shielded portion of the same livers shows that:

(1) the water content does not change;

(2) lipid content is significantly increased 12 hours after the irradiation;

(3) three hours after irradiation an increase in AMP concentration is observed. After 6 hours inorganic P, ADP and ATP contents are significantly increased. After 12 hours ATP concentration is raised;

(4) at any time after the irradiation the incorporation of ³²P into nucleotides is appreciably modified, except for an increase into ADP 3 hours after local irradiation.

Total-body irradiation causes a significant increase of inorganic phosphorus level. The water, lipid and adenine-nucleotide contents are unmodified, and the incorporation of ³²P into adenine nucleotides appears normal.