The relationship between 'early' and 'late' radiation-induced skin reactions as seen in two strains of mice that differ in radiosensitivity.

The acute skin reaction and time-course of skin contraction following graded single doses of X-rays were studied in CBA and C57B1 mice, in order to elucidate the relationship between 'early' and 'late' skin damage in strains that are known to differ in radiosensitivity. A dose-dependent acute reaction and rapid skin contraction was noted 0-50 days after irradiation in both strains, and both parameters of response were greatest in the C57B1 mice. Following this initial shrinkage there was a slight relaxation, which was again more evident in the C57s. A gradual, continuous, dose-independent contraction from 50-466 days was evident in CBA mice, whereas in C57s there was no evidence of late shrinkage. Histological examination at 466 days post-irradiation revealed a greater epidermal hyperplasia in CBA than in C57 mice. Comparison of these results with data on acute intestinal damage and early and late lung damage shows no general relationship between the incidence of early and late radiation damage in these two strains of mice.