Cytological basis for enhancement of radiation-induced mortality by Friend leukaemia virus infection.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the cytological basis for enhancement of radiation-induced mortality by Friend leukaemia virus infection.


METHODS
Cellularity in haematopoietic tissues of C3H mice infected with FLV and/or whole-body irradiation was examined.


RESULTS
When mice were treated with a sublethal dose (3 Gy) of irradiation at 1 week after virus infection, most manifested a severe loss of cellularity in the spleen, bone marrow and peripheral blood 2 weeks after irradiation. More than 90% of the mice died within 1 month post-irradiation. However, this deleterious effect of virus infection on the survival of irradiated mice was observed only when they were irradiated at around 1 week after virus inoculation. Strain differences in the sensitivity to this effect were observed among virus-sensitive strains of mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that Friend leukaemia virus infection can cause enhancement of radiation sensitivity of haematopoietic cells in host animals in a restricted manner in terms of genetic background and the interval between infection and irradiation.
Tanaka
K
K
Radiation Hazards Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1, Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan.
Watanabe
K
K
Yamaguchi
S
S
Hasegawa
M
M
Kitagawa
M
M
Aizawa
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000821:virology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005622:Friend murine leukemia virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000821:virology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000379:methods