Renal Failure in Perinatally Irradiated Beagles

Of 99 beagles receiving 270-435R60 Co gamma radiation (bilateral, whole-body; 10 min exposure time) at 55 days in utero or 2 days of age and allowed to survive beyond 70 days, 15 have subsequently died in chronic renal failure at times ranging from 8.5 to 24 mo of age. The current incidence of renal failure approximates 25% in males but only 2% in females. These results, which emphasize perinatal renal radiosensitivity in the dog, have important implications for man.