In Vivo Restitution of the DNA Structure in Gamma Irradiated Rabbit Retinas

Increasing doses of γ-radiation to the rabbit retina result in the sudden loss of the b-wave of the electroretinogram at a dose of 4300 ± 300 rads. In this same dose range, the photoreceptor cells of the retina appear to undergo an equally rapid impairment of a specific DNA repair mechanism. This impairment could result from damage to the repair mechanism itself, an accumulation of irreparable damage in the DNA, or the onset of a degradation process which overwhelms the repair mechanism. None of these alternatives can be eliminated at this time.