Effect of X-Irradiation on Survival of Rabbits with Staphylococcal B Enterotoxemia.

摘要

Nonlethal, total-body, x-irradiation (500 R) of rabbits 4 days before intramuscular staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) inoculation at doses of 10-50 micrograms/kg prevented the lethality. The same x-ray pretreatment improved survival of rabbits given higher doses of SEB (100-5000 micrograms/kg). Local cardiac region or cephalic irradiation (500 R) failed to improve survival among rabbits inoculated with SEB (100 micrograms/kg). The mechanisms by which total-body x-irradiation protects rabbits against SEB toxemia may be associated with both decreased tissue O2 demand and leukopenia. (Author)