Amyloidosis in Mice Exposed to Daily Gamma Irradiation2

Abstract

Amyloid disease is a common lesion observed both in control and LAF1 mice exposed to low daily doses of gamma-irradiation. Amyloidosis first appears about 9 months after the start of exposure to 6 and 12 r per day of gamma-irradiation, which continues for the duration of life. The initial appearance in control mice is at a comparable time but the peak incidence occurs earlier in the exposed groups. Late in life, the morbidity rate decreases sharply in all populations. The infiltrative nature of the disease produces the most severe degenerative sequelae in the kidney, although, in advanced cases, extensive atrophy of the hepatic cells and splenic follicles is observed.