Early changes in the immuno biological response of pigs under the effect of different gamma-ray doses

15 hybrid pigs of similar age and live weight were exposed to whole-body bilateral gamma-irradiation using ROCUS M 60Co Machine with doses of 2.2, 2.75 and 3.5 Gy. The following blood indices are determined by standard methods: total B-cell account; sheep erythrocyte rosette-forming cells (SRBC-RFC); erythrocyte antibody-complement rosette-forming-cells (EAC-RFC); phagocyte activity (PhA) - phagocyte count (PhC); phagocyte index (PhI) and bactericide activity (BA). The results were analysed by variation statistics. A reduction in lymphocytes (Lm) count is observed which confirms the assumption that the Lm are one of the most radiosensitive cells. The high radiosensitivity of T- and B-cells in general is also confirmed. Data obtained are in good agreement with the results of other authors. It is concluded that the tested doses affect irreversibly the immuno biological response through suppression of non-specific immuno mechanisms (PhA and BA), thus reducing the ability of a specific immune response by destroying the T-and B-cells populations. 9 figs., 10 refs