Increased Survival of Liver-Fed Rats Administered Multiple Sublethal Doses of X-Irradiation

Abstract

Experiments were conducted on the effects of (1) multiple sublethal doses of x-irradiation and (2) a single lethal dose of x-irradiation on the survival of rats fed: (a) a purified basal ration, (b) the basal ration plus supplements of all the known B vitamins, and (c) the basal ration plus 10% whole liver powder. The average survival time of both immature and adult female rats following multiple sublethal doses of x-irradiation was significantly greater on the liver-containing ration than on the other diets tested. The protective factor in liver was distinct from any of the known B vitamins. No significant difference in per cent or length of survival was observed among the three dietary groups following a single lethal dose of x-irradiation.