Effect of X-Ray Irradiation on Muscle Fatigue in Rats

¹ From the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Atomic Energy Project, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California

With the Ingle fatigue test, it has been demonstrated that a loss of muscle responsiveness, increased fatigability and decreased work output follow acute whole body irradiation. These effects increase with time postirradiation. In both normal and irradiated animals, strain differences were observed. In the dosage used, the administration of adrenal cortical extract did not improve performance. Adrenalectomy plus cortical extract did not improve performance. It has been postulated that the poor performance of the irradiated animals is related to a lack of glycogenolysis, poor intestinal absorption of glucose and circulatory collapse.