Development of evaluation method for the radiation effects on the metabolisms of essential elements as an indicator and protection from radiation

The effects of X-ray exposure and addition of unlabeled carrier were investigated on in vitro incorporation of 57Co by spleen cells and bone marrow cells from the mouse. The spleen cells and bone marrow cells were incubated with 57CoCl2 and 3H thymidine (3H-TdR) in the presence and absence of CoCl2 as unlabelled carrier for 18 hours. The incorporation of labeled Co could be detected in both the spleen cells and the bone marrow cells. The incorporation of the former was decreased by the addition of unlabeled CoCl2, but that of the latter was markedly increased. The incorporation of 3H-TdR in the spleen cells was increased in the presence of PHA but decreased in the presence of LPS, whereas the changes in the incorporation to the bone marrow cells were not significant. On the contrary, labeled Co and TdR incorporation into these cells that were in vitro exposed to X-ray radiation were determined. For the spleen cells, both incorporation of 57Co and 3H-TdR were reduced depending to radiation dose, whereas for the bone-marrow cells, 3H-TdR incorporation was reduced by the exposure but 57Co incorporation was markedly increased in a dose-dependent way. This increase suggested the possibility of protective effects to radiation. Next, the effects of Co-carrier on the 57Co incorporation were examined. The labeled Co incorporation was decreased in the presence of PHA and markedly increased in the bone marrow cells by adding the carrier. These results suggest that the mechanism for Co incorporation is different between the spleen cells and the bone marrow ones. (M.N.)