Radioprotective Effect of Rauscher Leukemia Virus in the SJL/J Mouse

Abstract

Experiments have been performed to study the radiosensitivity of mice with Rauscher virus induced leukemia. Development of the leukemia was evaluated by measurements of the changes in spleen weight, leukocyte count and differentials, and hematocrit. Thirty-day survival of Rauscher virus injected mice was compared with that of normal mice following: no irradiation, 490, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1050 and 1100 R of x-rays. Thirty-day survival of Rauscher infected mice given no irradiation was only 36%. This was increased to 100% by exposure to 490 R of x-rays. From 490 to 750 R the effect of irradiation on both normal and Rauscher infected mice was equivalent. However, from 800 through 1050 R the leukemic mice showed a notably greater radioresistance than did irradiated normal mice. Thirty-day survival of leukemic mice after exposure to 800 R was twice as great as that of normal mice (80% vs. 40%). At 900 R and above none of the normal mice survived for 30 days after the irradiation. In contr...