[PECULIARITIES OF THE CELLULAR COMPOSITION OF SPLENIC LYMPHOID TISSUE IN MICE AFTER LONG-TERM USE OF LIGHT WATER AND IRRADIATION].

The changes of the cellular composition of splenic lymphoid tissue were studied 7, 15 and 30 days after irradiation with a dose of 50 rad, in BALB/c mice which received either distilled water or light (deuterium-depleted) water for a long time prior to and after irradiation. The irregular pattern of changes of splenic cellular composition was observed during the experiment. It was found that at day 7 after irradiation, the splenic structural zones in mice demonstrated a sharp decrease in the number of blast forms and mitotic cells, reflecting a lower level of lymphocytopoiesis, as well as an increased cellular destruction in mice consuming light water. By day 30 of the experiment, different responses of lymphoid structures were observed in the organ. In the periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths, the processes of cellular composition regeneration were more pronounced than in the germinal centers of lymphoid nodules, indicating the enhancement of body cell-mediated immunity and immunomodulating properties of light water in mice at later dates of post-irradiation period.