Preliminary Observations on the Effects of Irradiation upon the Chylomicrons in Human Blood

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there could be established changes in the amount of mobile visible lipids in the blood stream of patients undergoing radiation therapy and whether the changes in lipid metabolism might be of the same type as those produced by histamine admn. in order to broaden the basis of the histamine theory of radiation effects. Chylomicron counts were performed at 1/2 hr. intervals. Irradiation regularly produced changes in the amt. and metabolism of the visible blood lipids. It was found that to produce changes the irradiation must be done within a given time interval after the ingestion of the fatty food. It appeared also that irradiation of certain regions of the body, as the abdomen, the pelvis, and the bifurcation of the common carotid, was followed by a particularly marked effect. Intra-musc. injns. of histamine acid phosphate suitably timed in relation to the fatty meal effected changes in the lipid metabolism comparable to those following irradiation. In persons with symptoms of radiation sickness, the changes in the blood lipids were particularly severe.