BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON ANIMALS EXPOSED TO NEUTRON RADIATION,
Abstract
Mice exposed to supralethal doses of neutron radiation and combined neutron and gamma radiation from the nuclear device used in Upshot-Knothole 9 (May 8, 1953) died within 21/2 to 4 days. Bacteriological examination of the heart blood and spleen from animals sacrificed while moribund revealed that 78 per cent of the animals receiving only neutron radiation and 96 per cent of the animals receiving combined neutron and gamma radiation suffered an extensive invasion by the normal intestinal bacteria. Contrary to findings reported elsewhere on animals exposed to x rays, invasion by two or more species of bacteria was found to be a common occurrence. In a large number of animals examined, positive cultures were obtained only from the spleen. This is interpreted as indicating that, although the filtering mechanism of the spleedn still functioned, this organ was unable to destroy the invading bacteria either because of the overwhelming number of bacteria or because of the injury to the spleen itself. Hence the organisms continued to multiply and eventually spilled back into the circulatory system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1953
- Accession Number
- AD0611226
Entities
People
- Myron S. Silverman
- Victor P. Bond
Organizations
- Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory