INDUCTION OF LATENT LIVER DAMAGE BY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE

Ionizing radiation is known to induce latent damage in the intact liver, which is manifested in the course of induced proliferation in the form of certain biochemical and morphological changes, more especially by inhibition of DNA synthesis and of mitotic activity, and also by chromosomal aberrations [3, 5, 6, 9]. A similar effect is given by certain chemical substances (cytostatics). Cyclophosophamide is one of the most frequently used cytostatics. Although the mechanisms of their action differ at the molecular level, the eventual results of damage to hematopoietic and lymphatic organs after exposure to ionizing radiation and to cyclophosphamide are identical in many respects [i0, ii, 13].