156
S.-£. KILLMANN AND OTHERS
Other Parameters
Other parameters that may eventually become of prognostic value are
the number of circulating DNA-synthesizing cells in the blood and the
DNA-synthesizing capacity of bone marrowcells.
DNA-synthesizing cells are present in very small numbers, about 5-10
per mm’, in the blood of normal man (Bondetal., 1959). This capacity for
DNA-synthesis can be demonstrated by in vitro incubation of the peripheral
blood with the specific DNA-precursor,tritiated thymidine (HTDR).
The
cells in the blood yielding positive autoradiographs with 7HTDR are
mononuclear cells which are not easily classified morphologically. The
victims of the Y-12 accident at Oak Ridge were studied by this technique
G-4BAbO
FIG. 3
CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF DNA-SYNTHESIZING MONONUCLEAR CELLS
IN THE PERIPHERAL BLOOD OF VICTIMS OF THE Y-12 ACCIDENT
J
I
rV/
\
1
|
.
@
o
|
3H-thymidine-labelled cells per mm} of bload
Mm
aA
i
!
|
I2
{
24
i
36
Days after exposure
50
/
~J
141
Estimated total exposures:
®
4
9
x
Oo
365
270
339
327
236
rad
rad
rad
rad
rad
oF
Reproduced, by permission. from Cronkite & Bond (1960)
yoaow ms
1 i ‘, “| 42