[Research on hepatic and overall collagen metabolism in irradiated rats (author's transl)]

The authors studied the effect of ionising radiation on hepatic and overall collagen metabolism in rats. Doses of 100 and 250 rads produced a reduction in urinary hydroxyproline while doses of 500 and 700 rads produced an increase. These results may be interpreted in favour of an increase in reticulation in the first case and in the second case, destruction of inter-molecular bonds. The quantity of total and insoluble collagen increases proportionally to the dose 40 days after the radiation. This proportional relationship is not observed during the first few days after radiation. Prolonged radiation with 700 rads produces a marked reduction in all collagen fractions, compared with 4 days after acute radiation. Among the substances studied, "folcisteine" had the best radio-protective effect when administered before radiation with 700 rads.