The effects of acute and long-term irradiation on collagen in rat liver

The alterations of hepatic collagen were investigated at various periods of time after acute (28 min.) and long-term (11 h) irradiation with 100 R, 250 R, 500 R, 700 R. The amount of total and insoluble collagen increases proportionally with the dose 40 days after irradiation, no such a relationship being apparent in the first days after irradiation. The long-term irradiation with 700 R results in a strong decrease of the amount of each of the collagen fractions, as compared with acute irradiation, tested 4 days after irradiation. The most evident protective effect against irradiation was shown by folcystein, as compared with the other agents administered prior to irradiation with 700 R.