Effect of X-Irradiation in Vitro on the Pulmonary Surfactant in Rabbits

In Vitro X선조사(線照射)가 가토폐포표면(家兎肺胞表面) 활성물질(活性物質)에 미치는 영향(影響)

In an attempt to further clarify the effect of X·irradiation on the activity of surfactant in rabbits, X-ray in dose of 900r was irradiated to the lung tissues of rabbits in vitro. Tension-area diagram of the lung extract was recorded automatically by a modified Langmuir-Wilhelmy balance with a synchronized recording system designed in this department. The surface tension of the lung extract was measured at 1,3,5,24 and 48 hours post-irradiation, and the results were compared with the non·irradiated normal group. The result$ thus obtained are summarized as follows: I The maximal surface tension, minimal surface tension, width of the tension·area diagram at the surface area of 40% in the lung extract and stability index of the normal rabbit long extract were 40.73 dynes/cm, 8.96 dynes/cm, 20.71 dynes/cm and 1.28, respectively. II. When 900r of X-ray was irradiated to the lung in vitro, 1) The maximal and minimal surface tensions did not differ noticeably from the normal at 1,3, and 5 post-irradiation hours, but the minimal surface tension increased significantly at 24 and 48 hours Post-irradiation. 2) The width of the tension area at the surface area of 40% showed a tendency of decrease throughout the experiment. 3) The stability index showed no significant change at 1,3 and 5 post-irradiation hours,but at 24 and 48 hours post-irradiation a significant decrease was observed comparing with the control. III. Activity of surfactant was significantly depressed by X·irradiation in vitro especially at 24 and 48 hours post-irradiation.