Effects of Hyperthermia on the Mouse Testis and Its Response to X-rays, as Assayed by Weight Loss

Abstract

The effects of hyperthermia and X-rays, alone or combined, on mouse testis were investigated to study the response of normal tissue to hyperthermia treatments used in cancer therapy. Testis weight was measured 3 wk after treatment. A linear dependence of testis weight on heating time was observed for temperatures in the range 39.5-43.75.degree. C. The relationship between the reaction rate and the reciprocal of absolute temperature indicated that over the temperature range considered the activation energy associated with such thermal damage was (646 .+-. 45) .times. 103 J mol-1. No evidence indicated a change in slope of the Arrhenius plot over this temperature range. Despite the high sensitivity of the testis to heat and X-rays, no thermal enhancement of the weight loss after irradiation was observed when thermal treatments which, if given alone would produce some obserable damage, were administered immediately after irradiation.