Rat natural killer (NK) cells are not bone marrow dependent.
Rats were treated with various doses of 89Strontium. At a dose effecting depletion of the bone marrow (200 muCi), NK activity of spleen, peritoneal and peripheral blood lymphocytes was unaltered or only slightly decreased. At higher doses (400 muCi), a general impairment of the immune system, including T-cell functions, was observed. After application of 700 muCi 89Strontium, rats died within three weeks.
D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000528:radiation effects; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D011828:Radiation Chimera; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes