X-Irradiation and Liver Regeneration in Partially Hepatectomized Rats

¹ From the Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois

The remaining liver of rats just after partial hepatectomy has been exposed to unfiltered x-ray ranging in dosages up to 20,000 r, the rest of the body being shielded. The livers showed no noteworthy pathology over an 11-day period except for the series irradiated with 20,000 r. The extent of liver regeneration in the irradiated animals did not differ statistically from that of the partially hepatectomized controls, evidently attesting to a definite radio-resistance for rat liver under these conditions.