Hematological alterations induced by low Gamma dose rate on mice at different exposure time intervals

Abstract

The effect of low gamma radiation doses (11.883 μGy) on the hematological parameters of several groups of male Blab/C mice was investigated. Twenty-nine animals were divided into six groups (6 mice in each group). The first group was the control group (unirradiated). The other groups were irradiated with a Cs-137 (100μci) gamma-ray source. The irradiated groups were categorized by exposure time (6, 12, 18, 24, and 32 days). At the end of the exposure period for each group, blood samples were collected for analysis. The obtained results indicated that by increasing the exposure time, significant (p≤0.05) decreases in the white blood cells (WBCs), hematocrit (Hct), eosinophils (Eso), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were detected. Equally, dramatic increases in monocytes (Mono) (P<0.01) and red cell distribution width (RDW) were noted. We also found a decrease in mean WBCs, red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hgb), HCT, and platelets (PLT). However, the increases noted for lymphocytes (Lymph), monocytes, neutrophils (Neut), MCHC, and RDW after 6,12, and 18 days of exposure began to decline after 24 and 32 days. It is suggested that these changes in the blood parameters of the treated mice were due to exposure to low gamma-ray doses. © 2023 Author(s).