Effects of whole-body X-irradiation on the peripheral blood of primate Cebus apella.

The effects of ionizing radiation on the peripheral blood elements of primate Cebus apella were examined after a single 25.8mC/kg (100 R) dose of whole-body X-ray. We determined the number of white blood cells,neutrophils, osophils, basophils,lymphocytes,monocytes anderythrocytes up to 90 days after exposure of 5 animals. Hemoglobin content and microhematocrit were also determined. Under these experimental conditions, the total number of leukocytes was reduced from 9440/mm***3 to 5660/mm***3 on day6, mainly because of a decrease inthe lymphocyte population from 5843.2/mm***3 to 2349.0/mm***3 on day 6. No significant differences were observed in the values of erythrocytes, neutrophils,eosinophils,basophils,monocytes,hemoglobin content and microhematocrit. All hematological parameters studied returned tonormal values by day 90 after a single irradiation dose of 100R