16
Hemopoietic reserve.
It was of interest to
determine whether the hemopoietic reserve of the
exposed Marshallese was equalto that of the unexposed group. Means were soughtto stimulate
or challenge the marrow in regard to white cellular elements, erythroid cells, or platelets, but no
2) MN System:
This blood group system was distributed as
follows.
No.
M
MN
feasible methods have been found. However, ad-
vantage was taken of a possibility that effects of
the natural stress of menstruation and childbearing in the women .5 to 45 years of age might
be reflected in differences in levels of their peripheral blood elements. The blood levels in this group
of females were compared with those in the same
age group of unexposed females, and the differences were then compared with the differences
between exposed and unexposed men in the same
age groups. Irradiated women and men, 15 to +5
years of age, were found to show the following percentage differences from the unexposed women
and men of the same age group: neutrophils,
females —5%, males +3%: lymphocytes, females
—6%, males —15%; platelets, females —6%, males
—7%; hematocrit, females +2%, males —6%.
From these data, it did not appear that exposed
women showed any lowerlevels of peripheral blood
elements than did the exposed men compared with
the unexposed groups, and thestress of these
temale functions did not appear to cause any
noticeable effect.
Hematological Studies of Genetically Determined
Traits. Blood grouping studies. ‘The following is
taken from a report by Sussmanetal.'® on blood
groupings in the Rongelapese.
1) ABO System:
The groupings in this system were asfollows.
Group
No.
%
Gene FREQUENCY
CO
75
58.1
0.762
pe=0.789
Ay
A,
24
0
18.6
0
0.114
9e= 0.116
B
19
15.0
0.093
r,=0.095
A,B
AB
10
L
7.4
0.8
N
total absence of A, genes in Eastern Asia, Australia,
and Indonesia has been repeatedly noted.‘*:'* Inquiry into the family backgroundofthe single A,B
native failed to reveal any significant information
leading one to suspect admixture.
101
GENE FREQUENCY
6.2
15.5
0.14
78.3
0.86
The low frequency of the M gene has been
noted in the Marshall Islanders by manyinvestigators.’° The frequencies obtained in this study
are among the lowest encountered.
3) Rh-Hr System:
A most unusual distribution was noted in this
system. Tests were performed with anti Rh, (D),
rh’ (C), rh” (EB), hr’ (c) and hr” (e} sera. The
results are as follows.
PHENOTYPE
No.
%
CHROMOSOME FREQUENCY
Rh, Rh,
126
97.7
R'=98,5
Rh.rh
3
2.3
The chromosomefrequency of 98.5% for R' is
the highest reported for any ethnic group. The
complete absence of any rh negative persons in
these andrelated series leads one to suspect that
the true genotype of the bloods giving a positive
reaction with anti hr’ (c) serum is most probably
R'R°. The occasional finding of an Rh, person
by Simmons”supports this interpretation. In the
presentseries of 125 there were no bloods that
reacted with rh” (E) antiserum.
Table 7
Case
The unusual finding ofa single A,B was verified
by testing with several absorbed B antisera, as
weil as with the lectin of Doltchos b:florans.'’ The
8
20
%
No.
Age
Sex
WBC
(xX10%)
Neut.
(107°)
Lymph.
Plate.
1.7
2.1
2.8
1.8
3.2
1.7
2.2
199
198
316
247
219
197
218
99
2.7
399
383
(9107) 6% 107)
EXPOSED
68
73
12
16"
58
30
il
53
22
23
42
63
63
54
M
M
F
M
F
F
M
4.6
4.7
4.5
4.5
5.6
5.5
5.6
2.2
2.3
1.6
2.2
2.2
3.7
3.2
UNEXPOSED
878
854
39
38
* Ailingnae.
M
F
3.0
3.1
2.2
2.2