ALTERATION OF RADIO-SENSITIVITY OF THE TESTIS BY EXTREME HYPOTHERMIA

Abstract

SUMMARY: 1. Mice were irradiated at normal body temperatures, at 1–2° C, at 13–15° C, and after cysteamine injections. 2. Damage to the testis by irradiation was assessed after 28 days by testicular weight and histology. 3. Cooling to 1–2° C during irradiation afforded considerable protection to testes. Cysteamine gave slight protection, and cooling to 13–15° C offered none. 4. It seems probable that the protective effect of hypothermia is due, in part at least, to the associated hypoxia produced when animals are cooled by the method described.