The ultrastructure of radiation-induced endosteal myelofibrosis in the dog

A rapidly developing, progressive form of endosteal myelofibrosis (MF) (with myeloid metaplasia) has been shown to occur at low frequency (approximately 4%) in dogs exposed continuously to low daily doses (10 R/day) of whole-body gamma irradiation. We report in this study the morphological details of the endosteal surface during both preclinical and clinical phases of developing MF by combination light microscopy and scanning/transmission electron microscopy. Pronounced alterations of the endosteum were observed and included: (1) during the early preclinical phases, a progressive time-dependent transition of the endosteal surface from predominantly resting to actively formative and resorptive states; and (2) during the late preclinical phase, aberrant autonomous osteogenic process(es) characterized by a marked reduction in the resorptive, osteoclast-associated endosteal areas occurring concomitantly with further increases in formative areas of the endosteum. Localized patches of overlapping, morphologically transformed endosteal cells (i.e., round-osteoblastic to branched-reticular shaped) were observed within the morphologically reactive, formative endosteum. Osteogenic-endosteal changes coincided with major restructuring of the hematopoietic parenchyma and supporting stromal network. We discuss the possibility that the early occurring endosteal changes are causally linked to normal reparative functions that operate during regenerative hematopoiesis following local and systemic injury. Based on morphological data collected during the late preclinical phase, we speculate that the mechanism of myelofibrosis induction involves the failure to terminate early osteogenic-dependent repair sequences.