Adrenal cortical function and radiation-induced lymphoid tumors of mice.

Abstract

1. The injection of cortisone either concurrently with or 6 weeks after total body irradiation significantly inhibited the development of lymphoid tumors in strain C57 black mice. No tumors occurred in mice treated with cortisone alone. Cortisone injection failed to modify the low lymphoma incidence observed after irradiation localized either over the mediastinum alone or over the whole body with the mediastinum shielded. 2. Bilaterally adrenalectomized strain C57 black mice exhibited a striking increase in mortality and a significant augmentation of lymphoid tumor incidence after total body irradiation. 3. Adrenal cortical extract and desoxycorticosterone acetate did not influence radiation-induced lymphoid tumor incidence under the experimental conditions employed.