Post-Radiation Parabiosis and Survival in Rats.

Abstract

Of 12 Sprague-Dawley rats given 700 r (200 KVP, 25 ma. 1.0 mm.Al, 0.25 c, TSD 50 cm. HVL 0.8 Cu, dose rate 44 r in air per min.) and joined to non-irradiated litter mates within a few hours after irradiation, 5 survived and were gaining weight 5.5 months later. 104 controls of the same age and wt. (80-120 g.) died within 22 days of irradiation. In a 2d, similar expt. animals were killed on the 10th and 11th day after irradiation for histologic examination. The irradiated parabions showed accelerated recovery of the bone marrow as compared with single control rats given the same dose of radiation. The authors suggest that post-radiation parabiosis is of benefit because it accelerates recovery of myelo-poiesis by the transfer of some cellular or non-cellular material from the non-irradiated partner.