Organ Weights and Splenocytic Apoptosis in γ-irradiated Korean Dark-Striped Field Mice, Apodemus Agrarius Coreae

The present investigation was planned to estimate potential possibility of striped field mice, Apodemus agrarius coreae (A. a. coreae), as a biological dosimeter in radio-environmental ecology. We bred captured wild A. a. coreae at laboratory and classified taxonomically based on external, cranial and tooth characters. Organ weights and splenocytic apoptosis were observed in order to establish a basic data on radiation biology of A. a. coreae (male, 40 weeks old). The biological effects was observed at 24hrs following irradiation (doses : 0, 0.5, 1, 2 Gy, dose rate : 0.8 Gymin^-1, ¹³⁷Cs). Only thymus weights was significantly decreased. Splenocytic apoptosis was increased after irradiation. But splenocytic apoptosis was decreased in 0.5 Gy γ-irradiated mice compared to those of 0, 1, 2 Gy (P > 0.05). These data suggested that events in thymus and spleen of Korean dark-striped field mice, A. a. coreae THOMAS, could be a potential radio-biological indicator in human environments