Stem-cell Kinetics after Irradiation

Abstract
The response of stem cells to irradiation has been studied in polycythaemic and normal mice. The sensitivity of stem-cell reproductive integrity to irradiation was found to have a D0 of approximately 65 rads. After a dose of 150 rads, stem-cell response to erythropoietin recovered to normal by the seventh day, and exceeded control values by a factor of two by the 12th day. Increased stem-cell integrity at this time was associated with a normal blood haematocrit, a twice normal reticulocyte percentage, a higher red-cell utilization of radio-iron and a greater resistance to lethal irradiation.