Affiliations: Hemorheology Center, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100083, P.R. China | Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China | Department of Bioengineering and Whitaker Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, San Diego, CA92093‐0412, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Wen Zong‐yao, Hemorheology Center, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100083, P.R. China. Tel.: +86 10 620 92419; Fax: +86 10 620 15582; E‐mail: rheol@mail.bjmu.edu.cn.
Abstract: A high‐dose (7 Gy) whole‐body 60Co irradiation for a short period caused disturbances of hematopoietic function. A decrease in the hematocrit of the circulating blood lasted for about 15 days, thus forming an anemic animal model. We studied the influence of high‐dose 60Co irradiation on hemorheologic parameters: percentage of reticulocytes, RBC deformability, sedimentation rate and plasma fibrinogen concentration in the rabbit. It was found that the plasma fibrinogen concentration increased to twice more than control level and that percentage of reticulocytes in circulation disappeared immediately after irradiation. The deformation index of RBCs in shear flow decreased from a value of 58% down to a value of 42% in the first two weeks and gradually returned to control levels about 40 days after 60Co irradiation. Our results showed that a short period of high‐dose 60Co irradiation caused severe and relatively long‐lasting damage of hematopoietic system in animals' body.
