Radiation-induced Intestinal Damage and the Second Corticosteroid Increase

Summary

The magnitude of the ‘second corticosteroid increase’ was determined in x-irradiated rats. Exposures of only the intestine initiated and sustained an increase in plasma corticosteroids from 1–5 days after 1000 R. At 3 days after irradiation, adrenal and plasma levels were dose-dependent.

Resection before whole-body x-irradiation, regardless of size of resection or time between resection and irradiation, did not modify corticosteroid responses unless 80 per cent of the small intestine was removed.