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The radiobiological effect of intracellularly localised radionuclides emitting low energy electrons (Auger electrons) has received much attention. Most in viva studies reported have been performed in the mouse testis. We have investigated the rat testis as an in viva radiobiological model, with sperm-head survival, testis weight loss and also alteration in the blood plasma hormone levels of FSH and LH as radiobiological endpoints. Validation of the rat testis model was evaluated by using mean absorbed doses of up to 10 Gy from intratesticularly (i.t.) injected 111In oxine or local X-ray irradiation. Biokinetics of the i.t. injected radionuclide was analysed by scintillation camera imaging and used in the absorbed dose estimation. By the analysis of the autoradiographs, the activity distribution was revealed. Cell fractionation showed 111In to be mainly associated with the cell nuclei. External irradiations were monitored by thermoluminescence dosimeters. The sperm-head survival was the most sensitive radiobiological parameter correlated to the mean absorbed dose, with a D37 of 2.3 Gy for 111In oxine and 1.3 Gy for X rays. The levels of plasma pituitary gonadal hormones FSH and LH were elevated for absorbed doses >7.7 Gy. This investigation shows that the radiobiological model based on the rat testis has several advantages compared with the previously commonly used mouse testis model. The model is appropriate for further investigations of basic phenomena such as radiation geometry, intracellular kinetics and heterogeneity, crucial for an understanding of the biological effect of low-energy electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several different methods for labelling autologous platelets with In-oxine have been described. However, no comparative study has been reported. In the present investigation two different labelling methods were compared in terms of labelling efficiency and platelet function in five species: human, dog, pig, rabbit and rat. One of the labelling methods, utilising among other things a serum albumin gradient separation of platelets and incubation of In-oxine in a water bath at 37° C, was superior in all species with significantly higher labelling efficiency and unchanged platelet function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE) cometabolic degradation by a filamentous, phenol-oxidizing enrichment from a surface-water source were investigated in batch tests. No intermediate toxicity effects were evident during TCE or DCE degradation for loadings up to 0.5 mg TCE/mg VSS or 0.26 mg DCE/mg VSS. Phenol addition up to 40 mg/L did not inhibit TCE or DCE degradation. TCE specific degradation rates ranged from 0.28 to 0.51 g TCE/g VSS-d with phenol present, versus an average endogenous rate of 0.18 g TCE/g VSS-d. DCE specific degradation rates ranged from 0.79 to 2.92 g DCE/g VSS-d with phenol present, versus 0.27 to 1.5 g DCE/g VSS-d for endogenous conditions. There was no inhibition of DCE degradation rates at concentrations as high as 83 mg/L. TCE degradation rates declined between 40 and 130 mg/L TCE. Perchloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and chloroform were not degraded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]