Further Investigations of the Response of Irradiated Mouse Skin

SummaryClosely similar skin reactions after doses of 250 kv x-rays were found in SAS/4 and C3H male mice. The comparison of the skin reactions of anaesthetized and non-anaesthetized mice was difficult, and was carried out most satisfactorily on hairless mice. No effect of the anaesthetic was seen. A variation of skin reaction with time of day was sought, but none was found. No difference in single-dose or split-dose skin reactions was observed after 100 or 6000 rad/min of 8 mev electrons. Finally, it was shown that the skin reactions of a second leg in the same mouse irradiated 24 hours after the first were the same as those on the first leg, showing that no systemic protective substance was present to reduce the skin reaction 24 hours after irradiation.