Changes in the Rate of Oxygen Consumption by Mouse Spleen Following Whole-Body X-Irradiation

Mice given single exposures of 500 R of X-irradiation were sacrificed at intervals up to 9 days after irradiation, and the oxygen consumption of the chopped spleens was measured polarographically in Eagle's basal medium. Oxygen consumption dropped by about 30% over the 6 hours following irradiation and rose again after 24 hours to about 10% below the control value. A second minimum was found at 3 to 4 days. The wet-to-dry weight ratio of the spleen tissue showed no significant change. The drop in oxygen consumption over the first 6 hours is probably due to cellular damage, and the subsequent rise to removal of the damaged cells.