Leukemia Induction in Mice by Fast Neutron Irradiation.

Abstract

Leukemias induced in mice of the RF strain by acute fast neutron irradiation in the cyclotron resembled in frequency and hematologic type those induced by X irradiation. Neutrons and X-rays appeared to have an overall leukemia-inducing effectiveness comparable to their 30-day lethality effectiveness, although thymic lymphomas were less numerous in neutron-exposed than in X irradiated mice. The induction of thymic lymphomas, but not of myeloid leukemias, was enhanced by fractionation of either neutron or X irradiation at intervals of 5-8 days.