BIOCHEMICAL, CELLULAR, AND BACTERIOLOGIC CHANGES IN THORACIC DUCT LYMPH OF DOGS EXPOSED TO TOTAL BODY IRRADIATION

Abstract

The study of the biochemical, cellular, and bacteriologic changes in lymph produced by 500 r total body irradiation in dogs was undertaken in order to compare them with changes which were found to occur in blood following total body X-radiation. Forty dogs were divided into 9 groups, each group representing a different time interval through 132 hrs. after irradiation. Dogs were anesthetized with nembutal, the thoracic ducts were cannulated with siliconed glass tubing. and the lymph fistulae allowed to drain for from 6-10 hrs. Lymph samples were taken every 1-2 hrs. Blood samples were taken at longer intervals. Total protein levels in lymph showed several early minor fluctuations with an overall decrease later in the expts. Creatinine also showed slight deviations with an overall downward trend. Uric acid showed a marked rise of 72% above normal for 29 hrs. after irradiation, and then returned to slightly below normal. NPN levels increased soon after irradiation, then gradually fell to slightly below normal. Sugar and chloride detns. showed no significant changes. Total white blood cell counts of lymph dropped to 18% of normal within the first 18 hrs. following X-radiation and remained at a low level for the duration of the expt. Differential counts in lymph did not change following irradiation. Bacterial cultures of blood and lymph taken at intervals from 1-132 hrs. after X-radiation were negative. The changes in the rate of lymph flow in control and irradiated dogs were similar. There was no consistent change in lymph clotting time following irradiation.