The Change in the Radiosensitivity of the Intact Mouse Thymus Produced by Breathing Nitrogen

Following the administration of pure nitrogen to young mice weighing between 13 and 19 g, the radiosensitivity of the thymus gland, as judged by loss in weight two days after irradiation, fell to a minimum level in approximately 20 seconds and longer periods of anoxia up to 45 seconds did not cause a further fall. The relative radiosensitivity of the normally oxygenated state to the fully anoxic state was in the region of 3 to 1.