Radioresistance of Mongolian Gerbils

Summary

Seventy-six 8 week old Mongolian gerbils were exposed to acute, whole-body fast neutrons produced by The University of Michigan 83-in. cyclotron. Groups of seven or eight gerbils were given doses between 485 and 881 rad at 25 rad per minute. The LD_50/30 determined by probit analysis was 750 rad, with 95 per cent fiducial limits of 733 and 776. For the 50 per cent mortality level, an r.b.e. of fast neutrons compared with cobalt-60 of 1·45 was determined. For the same end-point, the r.b.e. for fast neutrons compared with X-rays is 1·33. Mortality data, body-weight and microhaematocrit changes are discussed.