Effect of gamma- and gamma-neutron irradiation on the composition of the metabolic amino acid pool, blood antiprotease activity and the life-span of animals

A study was made of the effect of gamma- and gamma-neutron-radiation, with neutron energy of 0.9 MeV, on the free amino acid composition and antiprotease activity of blood as well as on the life span of albino mongrel rats. The data obtained indicate that changes in the metabolic pool of blood amino acids and inhibitory capacity of blood with respect to alpha 2-macroglobulin depend upon the type and dose of radiation. An attempt is made to find a correlation between early changes in the metabolic pool of amino acids and antiprotease activity and the degree of life span shortening after gamma- and gamma-neutron irradiation.