Comparison of Two Methods for the Determination of the Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Blood Cell Counts in Mice
Abstract
A reliable technique is needed to determine the effect of ionizing radiation on white blood cell (WBC) counts. Facilities that utilize automated methods can provide this service. However, utilizing external facilities can introduce additional variables, such as differences between time of sample collection and time of sample processing, which may affect the results. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether an automated method at an external facility can accurately determine radiation-induced changes in total WBC, lymphocyte and granulocyte counts when samples are analyzed at periods of time up to 24 hours after collection and stored either at room temperature or at 4oC. To accomplish this, we compared automated blood cell counts determined at an external facility with our manual blood cell counts processed immediately after sample collection or 24 h after sample collection and stored either at room temperature or 4°C from mice exposed to 2 Gy proton or 2 Gy gamma radiation. Our results show a close correlation and good agreement between the two methods, indicating that neither a delay of 24 hours in sample processing nor storage temperature affected white blood cell counts. Analysis of the effects of radiation on blood cell counts by either manual or automated cell counts revealed a statistically significant decrease in lymphocyte and granulocyte counts at different days post-irradiation, with no statistically significant difference between the methods employed; therefore both manual and automated blood cell counts are reliable methods to determine the effects of ionizing radiation in blood cells.
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A reduction in peripheral blood granulocyte counts was observed after radiation.
“A reduction in the peripheral blood granulocyte counts was observed after radiation similar to that described previously [26], [49], [50].”
From Hindlimb suspension and spe-like radiation impairs clearance of bacterial infections (2014) · cites this paper as [26]
Radiation (2 Gy), either gamma or proton, results in a significant decrease in granulocyte counts in peripheral blood and other organs.
“Radiation (2 Gy) either gamma or proton results in a significant decrease in granulocyte counts in peripheral blood (Figure 8 and supplemental Figure 1) and other organs [26], [49], [50].”
From Hindlimb suspension and spe-like radiation impairs clearance of bacterial infections (2014) · cites this paper as [26]
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- Authors
- Department of Radiation Oncology, U. O. P. S. O. M., Kennedy, A. R., & Romero-Weaver, A. L.
- Venue
- International Journal of Biomedical Science
- Published
- 2012-03-15
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 7-15
- ISSN
- 1550-9702 (ISSN-L)
- 1555-2810
- OpenAlex
- W4386844812
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 1.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Biomedical Science (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Effects of Radiation Exposure
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Clinical Laboratory Practices and Quality Control
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotoxicology and immune responses
- Keywords
- ionizing radiation effects, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, granulocyte count, automated blood cell counting, sample storage temperature, sample processing delay, proton radiation, gamma radiation, mice
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