Terminal hematological changes in mice bearing osteosarcomas induced by plutonium-239

Terminal hematological changes were studied in female ICR mice injected intravenously with 181.1 kBq/kg of monomeric 239Pu. Cellularity and differential cell counts in femoral bone marrow and spleen, as well as peripheral blood counts were determined. The results were evaluated with respect to the quantitative hematological changes and to the diagnosis of proliferative disorders. As far as the nonstochastic response is concerned, evidently decreased cell counts, without abnormalities in myelogram, were observed in the femoral bone marrow of 239Pu-treated mice and only a mild leukopenia was present in peripheral blood. No significant difference was observed between the hematological response of tumor-bearing mice and the response of mice free of osteosarcomas.