[Metabolism of high-energy phosphate compounds in rabbit tissues in post-irradiation disease]

The experiment was carried out on 40 rabbits divided in four groups. Each animal of the experimental groups received a 850 R dose. X-rays were applied for irradiation. The animals were sacrificed on the 7th, 12th and 17th day after irradiation. Levels of ATP/ADP and phosphocreatine were determined in the skeletal muscles, myocardium, liver, kidneys, blood and the mucosa of duodenum. On the 7th day, in all tissues a decrease of the phosphocreatine level was observed. The lowest level differed little from zero. Afterwards a slow increase of phosphocreatine concentration took place, reaching the normal level in the kidneys on the 17th day after irradiation. The concentration of ATP/ADP was the lowest on the 7th day of the experiment. A fast increase of that fraction was observed in the liver, where the level of ATP/ ADP on the 12th day was higher than in the control group. From the 12th day, a drop in the ATP/ADP level was observed, reaching the normal level on the 17th day. In the skeletal and heart muscles, after a drop on the 7th day, a slow increase of the activity was observed on the last day of the experiment, but the activity did not reach the normal level.