Mortality and gross pathology of secondary disease in germfree mouse radiation chimeras

JM Jones, R Wilson, PM Bealmear - Radiation research, 1971 - meridian.allenpress.com
JM Jones, R Wilson, PM Bealmear
Radiation research, 1971meridian.allenpress.com
On the hypothesis that elimination of the microbial flora of the host might avert or delay the
fatal effects of graft-versus-host (GVH) reactions and mitigate the pathology of secondary
disease, a study was made of allogeneic and xenogeneic radiation chimeras utilizing rigidly
inbred germfree and conventional animals. Germfree C3H/He mice irradiated with 1000 R
and given 107 DBA/2 bone marrow cells had a 98% survival 120 days postirradiation. By
contrast, conventional C3H/He mice irradiated with 825 R and given 107 DBA/2 bone …
On the hypothesis that elimination of the microbial flora of the host might avert or delay the fatal effects of graft-versus-host (GVH) reactions and mitigate the pathology of secondary disease, a study was made of allogeneic and xenogeneic radiation chimeras utilizing rigidly inbred germfree and conventional animals. Germfree C3H/He mice irradiated with 1000 R and given 107 DBA/2 bone marrow cells had a 98% survival 120 days postirradiation. By contrast, conventional C3H/He mice irradiated with 825 R and given 107 DBA/2 bone marrow cells had a 64% survival at 30 days and a 0% survival at 120 days postirradiation. Gross evidence of secondary disease was rare in the germfree allogeneic chimeras while, by comparison, the conventional allogeneic chimeras presented the symptoms of secondary disease usually observed in other laboratories. Germfree status did not prevent secondary disease or death in the xenogeneic (Fischer 344 rat to C3H/He mouse) chimeras, but did prolong mean survival time. The results support the concept that in the mouse GVH reactions resulting from allogeneic bone marrow transplantation are not necessarily fatal if the microbial flora of the host is restricted or eliminated.
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