Effect of low-dose radiation on the main organs of erythro-and lymphocytopoiesis in the human fetus

The liver, thymus, and blood of 31 human fetuses of 6–32 weeks of gestation obtained from parents who are permanent residents in radionuclide-contaminated regions are studied by histological methods. The pathological effect of environmental factors on fetal liver and thymus development are shown. Both the liver hemopoiesis and thymic lymphocytopoiesis are inhibited. In the thymus and increased secretion in the stromal epithelium is associated with the formation of specific microtubules.