earticle

영어

We exposed ICR mice to low-dose (0.2 Gy) and low-dose-rate (0.7 mGy/h) -radiation (137Cs) in the Low-dose-rateIrradiation Facility at the Radiation Health Research Institute to evaluate systemic effects of low-dose radiation. Wecompared the body and organ weights, number of blood cells (white and red blood cells and platelets), levels of biochemicalmarkers in serum, and frequency of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes between low-dose irradiated and non-irradiated control mice. The ICR mice irradiated with total doses of 0.2 and 2 Gy showed no changes in body and organweights, number of blood cells (white and red blood cells), or frequency of micronuclei in the polychromatic erythrocytesof peripheral blood. However, the number of platelets (P = 0.002) and the liver weight (P < 0.01) were significantlyincreased in mice exposed to 0.2 and 2 Gy, respectively. These results suggest that a low-dose-rate of 0.7 mGy/h does notinduce systemic damage. This dose promotes hematopoiesis in the bone marrow microenvironment and the proliferationof liver cells. In the future, the molecular biological effects of lower doses and dose rates need to be evaluated.