Nature 187, 612 - 614 (13 August 1960); doi:10.1038/187612b0

Radiosensitivity of Mouse Kidney undergoing Compensatory Hypertrophy

V. J. ROSEN JUN. & L. J. COLE

Biological and Medical Sciences Division, U.S. Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory, San Francisco 24, California.

WE have been interested in assessing the degree or extent of acute radiation damage to the kidneys, particularly as it may relate to late radiation effects on this organ, namely nephrosclerosis^1,2. Significant acute changes in renal morphology (that is, during the first month), following whole-body irradiation in the lethal dose-range, have not in general been observed^3,4. In this connexion, it is well known that the kidney of the normal adult exhibits only minimal mitotic activity. Therefore it was thought of interest to ascertain whether the kidney becomes radiosensitive when mitotic activity is stimulated by unilateral nephrectomy. Mitotic activity of the kidney following unilateral nephrectomy has been shown by Rollason⁵ and by Sulkin⁶ to be largely restricted to the period 48–72 hr. post-surgery.

1. Furth, J. , Upton, A. C. , Christenberry, K. W. , Benedict, W. H. , and Moshman, J. , Radiology, 63, 562 (1954). | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
2. Cole, L. J. , Nowell, P. C. , and Ellis, M. E. , J. Nat. Cancer Inst., 17, 435 (1956). | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
3. Patt, H. M. , and Brues, A. M. , in "Radiation Biology", 1, Pt. 2, edit. by Hollander, A., 959 (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1954).
4. Warren, S. , Arch. Path., 34, 1079 (1942).
5. Rollason, H. D. , Anat. Rec., 104, 263 (1949). | Article | ISI |
6. Sulkin, N. M. , Anat. Rec., 105, 95 (1949). | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
7. Becker, N. H. , and Ogawa, K. , J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol., 6, 297 (1959).
8. Beltz, R. E. , and Applegate, R. L. , Biochem. Biophys. Res. Communications, 1, 298 (1959). | ISI | ChemPort |
9. Bollum, F. , and Potter, V. R. , Cancer Res., 19, 561 (1959). | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |