The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of low dose X-irradiation (0.1∼1.5 Gy) on the frequency of pyknosis and micronuclei in leukocytes in mice. For observation of pyknosis and micronuclei in leukocytes, blood smears were performed, then stained with Hematoxylin-Eosine. The frequencies of pyknosis and micronuclei cells were observed under microscopic field.
The frequency of pyknotic leukocytes with degeneration, disintegration and dark-stained nuclei was signifantly high in groups of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 Gy irradiation (P<0.05, P<0.001 and P<0.0001, respectively), compared with the control.
The occurrence of micronuclei of leukocytes was also significantly high in groups of 1.0 Gy (P<0.05) and 1.5 Gy irradiation (P<0.05) compared with the control. These results suggest that the irradiation with 0.5∼1.5 Gy damaged to leucocytes in a dose-dependent manner.
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