The method of repeated speed swimming used to study physical fitness of rodents after uniform and nonuniform irradiation with high doses

Physical fitness of irradiated (20-200 Gy) mice and rats was estimated by the method for repeated swimming at a fixed distance. Revealed was the reduction adequacy of the two indices, that is the starting time and the fatigue coefficient, the latter being changed more considerably. The dose of 80-100 Gy determined the threshold of the cerebral damage and caused an irreversible decrease in the physical fitness of rodents. The role of exposure of the head in the impairment of the physical fitness of rats has been confirmed by the experiments with some body parts being shielded