THE EFFECT OF X-IRRADIATION ON THE CHROMIUM-51 CONTENT OF LIVER NUCLEIC ACIDS AND PROTEINS

Abstract

When tracer amounts of sodium radiochromate were injected intraperitoneally into mice, X-irradiation (600 r) produced an increase in the Cr⁵¹content of the liver which was accompanied by an increase in the Cr⁵¹content of the liver proteins and nucleic acids. The liver proteins and nucleic acids from the X-irradiated mice both showed the greatest increase in Cr⁵¹content at 16 days but at 37 days the X-irradiated and non-irradiated values were fairly similar. It is suggested that the Cr⁵¹content of the liver or liver proteins can be used as an index of repair or recovery following injury by X-irradiation.