Rapid metabolic changes in the blood and organs of rats under the influence of electron pulse radiation at superhigh doses

Early metabolic changes have been studied in the peripheral blood, brain, adrenals, spleen, and liver of rats after irradiation with 500 Gy. Using ESR spectroscopy we showed the formation of a great amount of hemoglobin nitrosyl complexes and methemoglobin in the blood and spleen, thus suggesting that the endothelium-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide (NO), was released due to irradiation stimulation and sharp hypoxia in brain. Polarographic data concerning the disturbance of brain mitochondrial function (activation of succinate hydrogenase oxidation) allowed a conclusion that hypoxia appeared after irradiation at superlethal doses. Antioxidative activity of lipids in various tissues differed in the rats with "the early loss of performance" syndrome and in normal rats. Possibility of ammonia intoxication of the brain soon after irradiation at superlethal doses has been discussed.