Effect of gamma radiation on the enzymatic activity of cell organelles of liver and epithelium of small intestine in rabbits.

The protein content and activity of enzymatic markers of cell organelles: succinate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphatase, uricase, acid phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase were assayed in the homogenate and the supernatant (after two-hour centrifugation at 140,000 X g) of the liver and intestinal epithelium in rabbits irradiated with a single dose of 550 rads of gamma rays. The determinations were carried out on 1,3,6,9,15 and 30 days after irradiation for experimental and control animals. After gamma irradiation the following alterations were found: 1) increase in protein content (marked between 3-6 days), 2) remarkable rise of alkaline phosphatase activity (during the entire period of study), 3) elevation of 5'-nucleotidase activity (only in the intestinal epithelium), 4) marked reduction of succinate dehydrogenase and uricase activity (on the first day of study), 5) moderate decrease of glucose-6-phosphatase activity (mainly on the third day). Apart from a slight decline in the activity of acid phosphatase in the homogenate of intestinal epithelium, on the third day there practically were no changes in the activity of this enzyme either in the supernatant of intestinal epithelium or in the liver tissue.