comparable to that in laboratory aninais in most respects, with the exception that
the temporal relationships appear different.
It seems that it took a lonscr time
for the Japanese casualties to reach the minimum neutrophile and platclet levels
than it does in icaboratory aninalis.
ae render is seferred to tha study of the
henatology of atomic bomb casuaitics by LeRoy, and to the report of the hematoloical findines in the Marshallese exposed to fallout radiation (Bond ct al.).
8.6.1
Lymphocytes.
Lyrcphocytes are particularly sensitive to radiation.
in vitro studies by Schrek show that there is an increased rate of destruction of
normal lymphocytes after exposure to as little as 50 r.
One of five suspensions
of lymphocytic leukemic cclis was rclatively insensitive to x-ray.
Schrek, in
further studies, decided that, "u-rays accelerate a normal metabolic process in
lymphocytes.
Thk2 degeneration of irradiated and non-irradiated cells results from
the devclonoment of sinsie or multiple focal intranuclear areas of hydration.”
Tae lymphocyte levels in the blood begin to decrease immediatcly after exposure.
The magnitude and the rate of chanse are closely rclated to the amount of
sadiation received, particutacly in the sub-lethal dose range.
In the higher dose
ronges the rate of discppearance of lymphocytes probably approaches the rate of
utilication because production has been completely stopped; or disappearance may ..
exceed the normal rate of utilization becouse the diffuse cellular injusy mcy inThus it is
© understand why changes in the lymphocyte levels can only be used in esti-
s
*
f>
u
Q
crease the demand for lymphocytes and their metabolic end productions.
mating subeicthal exposure.
Once oli hematopoietic activity is stopped, changes
become in pact a function of normal utilizatien except when the dosaze is so great
that the cells cre destroyed disectly in the peripheral cizculatica.
In rcebdits
(Jacobson et a2.) a manimum decrease of about 25% in the lymphocyte count is detected 24 houss after exposure to 25 r.
greater the docase, the greater the
Recovery appears within two days.
depressicn in tha lymphocytes.
depression of 90% occurs in tke ficst 24 hours.
sp071b1
The
At ccO r, a
At a dosese of 800 s (DegA309)