Effect of hyperthermia and gamma irradiation on human blood components in vitro

ABSTRACT

From 17 healthy volunteers, 12 males and 5 females, 130 blood specimens were examined. The irradiated samples [102] were exposed to 50,100 or 150 rad. Prior to irradiation half of the specimens were incubated in a water bath at 40 degree C for 30 minutes. Plasma haemoglobin, osmotic fragility test and Nitro-Blue Tetrazolium [N-B.T.] test were determined to study the physical properties of Bed Blood Cells and Phagocytic power of neutrophils. R.B.Cs. began to lyses at 150 rad as evidenced by increase in plasma haemoglobin level, neither hyperthermia nor irradiation below this level were effective. Hyperthermia had a brief effect on the fragility test and increasing dose of irradiation induced increase in the osmotic fragility curve. Hyperthermia had a stimulatory effect on activated neutrophils only while 100 and 150 rad had an inhibitory effect on the same group. The N-B.T. test was statistically unchanged in other groups denoting no effect of hyperthermia or irradiation on unstimulated neutrophils