[Biochemical indicator of post-irradiation injury in cattle]

A biochemical indicator of post-irradiation injury, recording the increased secretion of metabolites of nucleic acids in the urine of whole-body irradiated cattle in the first 6-12 hours after exposure was worked out. This test consists in the determination of deoxycytidine substances by means of the test with thiobarbituric acid after a previous isolation by means of ion exchange chromatography. A significant increase of the excretion of deoxycytidine substances which was proportionate to the dose of irradiation and made it possible to divide the irradiated cattle into animals showing light, medium, and severe forms of the irradiation sickness was found.