Abstract:
We studied the combined effect of gamma radiation (6 Gy, remote period) and immobilization
stress on immunological reactivity. Materials and methods. To address this, we carried out experiments
on 40 white male Wistar rats weighing 220 ± 20 g, which were divided into 4 groups: Group I - intact
animals, group II - animals exposed to gamma radiation (dose of 6 Gy), group III - animals exposed to
immobilization stress and group IV - animals exposed to combined exposure to gamma radiation (dose of
6 Gy) and immobilization stress. Animals in groups II and IV were irradiated 90 days before the study on
the TERAGAM radiotherapeutic cobalt unit. In groups III and IV, animals were modeled for acute
immobilization stress by immobilization for 6 h in bright light. Results. At the early period of
immobilization stress, all indicators of the immune system, such as cellular, humoral and nonspecific
phagocytic links of immunity were activated, indicating the activation of the general adaptive syndrome
of the organism. The suppressive action of gamma radiation on the immune system was preserved in a
remote period, with this suppression being revealed not only on the T-cellular link, but also on
nonspecific phagocytic links, and the functional metabolic activity of neutrophils. In the remote period
after the combined effect of sublethal gamma radiation and immobilization stress in the early stage of the
adaptation syndrome, there was a decrease in all cells of the T system of immunity, in the functional
ability of leukocytes, and in the mononuclear phagocytic system of the body. The experimental
immobilization-radiation pathological process was accompanied by disorders of the functional activity of
the essential adaptive systems of the body. Based on our results, we could conclude about the dominant
role of ionizing radiation in immunological reactivity.
