Immediate and short-, mid- and long-term effects of in vivo ionizing radiation exposure in BALB/c mice: I. Activation of lymphocytes and subpopulations.
BACKGROUND
The main aim of this work was to study the effects of single whole-body irradiation (WBI) on the lymphoproliferative response in radiation-sensitive BALB/c mice.


METHODS
Mice were irradiated (0-5 Gy) and euthanized immediately afterward; other animals were subjected to WBI (4 Gy) and were analyzed after periods of 0-180 days. Splenic cell number, lymphoproliferative response and lymphocyte subpopulations were studied.


RESULTS
This study shows that immediately after exposure, an inhibition of the basal mitogen lymphoproliferative response was produced; furthermore, B-cells appear to be more radiosensitive than T-cells. However, up to 90 day's post-irradiation, mice spleens clearly show low cell numbers, and subpopulations and T-cell mitogens did not return to normal, while the basal response and B-cell mitogens peaked on day 15 post-WBI.


CONCLUSIONS
In our model, B-cells regenerate earlier than T-cells, while Th lymphocytes regenerate faster than Tc lymphocytes.
Experimental Immunology Unit, Research Centre, University Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Joaquín
J
Hernández-Godoy
Dolores Planelles
DP
Silvestre
Baltasar Balsalobre
BB
Hernández
D000818:Animals; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000276:immunology*; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*
D008934:Mitogens