Resistance to whole-body X-irradiation in rats made tolerant to bacterial endotoxins

Rats were treated with three conditioning agents (bacterial endotoxins, zymosan and compound 48/80) known to produce tolerance to other forms of stress, as a means of determining the importance of the reticulo-endothelial system in the response to WBR. Effective protection was provided by tolerance induced by lipopolysaccharide extracts of E. coli bacteria. Some protection was also afforded by conditioning with 48/80 for several days. These agents were active only when administered before exposure to x-rays. Treatment post x-ray broke down the induced resistance. Blood platelet levels remained high in conditioned animals exposed to WBR. It is suggested that a relationship exists between the priming or conditioning of the reticuloendothelial system and the maintenance of satisfactory blood platelet levels in adapted animals receiving WBR.