Biochemical and Morphological Changes in Lymphatic Tissues after Partial-body Irradiation

Summary

The oxidative phosphorylation of nuclei isolated from the thymus and of mitochondria isolated from the spleen and the morphological changes in these organs were studied after partial and whole-body x-irradiation of rats.

Early inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation and cellular destruction was observed only after whole-body irradiation with or without shielding of the head. Irradiation of the head alone had no such effects. The results seem to exclude the possibility that abscopal factors may be involved in the production of radiation-induced changes of oxidative phosphorylation in the spleen and thymus.