[Mechanism of changes in irradiated thymocytes detected by anilinonaphthalenesulfonate]

In experiments on rat thymocytes obtained 15 min, 2 h and 4 h after irradiation of animals with the dose of 10 Gy it was found that 15 min and 4 h following irradiation changes occurred in their membranes increasing the lifetime of the excited state of anilinonaphthalene sulfonate and hydrofobicity and viscosity of its microenvironment. The indicated parameters did not vary from the controls 2 h following irradiation. The analysis of the data obtained prompted a suggestion that the observed changes were associated with the structural rearrangements in the plasma membrane rather than with its destruction. Model experiments on irradiated thymocyte suspensions showed that there was a correlation between changes in the cell membrane and meabolic processes.