title: Hypoadrenocorticism in beagles exposed to aerosols of plutonium-238 dioxide by inhalation.
abstract: Hypoadrenocorticism, known as Addison's disease in humans, was diagnosed in six beagles after inhalation of at least 1.7 kBq/g lung of 238PuO2. Histological examination of adrenal gland specimens obtained at necropsy revealed marked adrenal cortical atrophy in all cases. Autoradiographs showed only slight alpha-particle activity. Although the pathogenesis of adrenal cortical atrophy in these dogs is unclear, there is evidence to suggest an autoimmune disorder linked to damage resulting from alpha-particle irradiation to the lymphatic system.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Buschbom
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Dagle
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ragan
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000224:Addison Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D001345:Autoradiography; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011005:Plutonium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D011005:Plutonium