Development of dark-striped field mice, apodemus agrarius, as a biological dosimeter in a radio-ecological monitoring system 3. radio-sensitivity between A. agrarius and ICR mice

This study examined the possibility of using striped field mice as a biological dosimeter or indicator for the environmental radio-surveillance. For this study, the external morphological characteristics and isoenzymic types of dark-striped field mice were studied after they were captured. Among the morphological external characteristics, the dark-brown coat, dark back stripe, head-to-tail length, tail length, and ear length matched the taxonomical characteristics of dark-striped field mice. The analyses on L-lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and malate dehydrogenase revealed that one species of dark-striped field mice, called Apodemus agrarius, was inhabitated throughout a wide range of Korea. On the other hand, A. agrarius and ICR mice to analyze their survival rate and frequency of micronuclei in peripheral polychromatic erythrocytes after irradiation (0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 Gy). The LD50/30 of A. agrarius and ICR mice were approximately 5 Gy and 7 Gy, respectively. The results of the study reveal that wild A. agrarius have a high potential as a biological monitoring system to determine the impact of radiation effect in areas such as those within the vicinity of nuclear power plants