THE INFLUENCE OF ADRENAL CORTICAL HORMONES ON SENSITIVITY OF MICE TO IONIZING RADIATION1

Abstract

The ability to alter resistance of animals to ionizing radiation is now well established (Treadwell et al., 1943, Graham and Graham, 1949, Patt et al., 1949). However, the physiological processes that accomplish this end are totally obscured. This paper attempts to define the place of the adrenal cortex in radio-sensitivity or resistance. The adrenal cortex is known to have a protective function from various kinds of trauma. It responds promptly to stress in many forms (Selye, 1947). Adrenalectomized animals are much more vulnerable to infection, toxins and mechanical trauma than their intact brothers (Perla and Marmorston, 1941). The administration of potent adrenal cortical extract to adrenal deficient individuals may restore them to a normal state of resistance but when given to normal animals, does not ordinarily endow a super immunity (Perla and Marmorston, 1941). When we began this study, estradiol (Treadwell et al., 1943) and foreign protein (Hektoen, 1918, Auer and Witherbee, 1921) given about 10 days prior to radiation were reported to have a protective action in animals.