Dose-time investigations of radiogenic pneumonopathy. 3

In 62 young pigs (including 10 controls) clinical (respiratory rate and sounds) roentgenological, and pathomorphological-histological analyzing methods were used to quantify lung reaction. The clinical and roentgenological course of early radiogenic pneumonopathy in the pigs is like in human radiogenic pneumonitis. The pathomorphological picture reveals the basic reactions such as interstitial pneumonitis and fibrosis also in the irradiated pig lung. Thus the usefulness of the pig as biological model in the study of radiation effects in the human lung tissue has proven. The respiratory rate proved to be a sensitive parameter in the registration of lung reactions. The interval between the middle of irradiation period and appearance of clinical or roentgenological changes is 21 or 32 days. The dose-time reactions of lung and skin are different. (author)