Cytogenetic and hormonal investigations of gamma irradiated Wistar rats

Cytogenetic data from bone marrow cells and hormonal changes in the gonadial axis were investigated in male Wistar rats, severely gamma irradiated with doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 Gy. The structural chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells were recorded quantitatively, while luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (TS) were determined in blood plasma by radioimmunological methods. A strictly defined dose dependence in yield of cells with aberrations, chromatide and chromosome fragments and total amount of breaks was found in the bone marrow cells analyzed. Statistical models were used for data processing. A correlation was estimated between irradiation dose and the levels of LH and FSH in the blood plasma as well as of TS content produced by Leidig's testis cells. LH and FSH levels were reduced considerably below the norm by almost all irradiation doses and were maintained low from the day 1 to 40 post irradiation, while TS content decreased at high irradiation doses (2.0 and 4.0 Gy), but was above the norm at low doses. 4 tabs.; 5 figs.; 24 refs