Time/dose relationships in experimental radiation cataractogenesis

The response of the mammalian lens to fractionated radiation exposures was evaluated as a model system for predicting delayed radiation effects on normal tissue. Only the heads of male Ha/ICR mice were x irradiated with 14 different time-dose schedules and followed for cataractous changes. A log--log plot of dose vs time yielded a line with a slope of 0.303 and ordinate intercept of 1050 R; a similar plot for dose vs fraction number yielded a slope of 0.382 and ordinate intercept of 835 R. Results suggest that the lenticular response to radiation may be a useful model for studying late effects. (auth)