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Relationships of X Irradiation to the Enhancement of Candida albicans Infections

The Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206

ABSTRACT

Preirradiation significantly reduced the number of Candida albicans cells required for the LD₅₀ of experimentally infected mice. The start and extent of recovery of total leukocytes of preirradiated infected mice were proportional to the dose of X rays administered. During 10 days postinfection, heterophils of infected mice preirradiated with 400 R recovered to levels above unirradiated, uninfected controls but did not exceed those of unirradiated, infected animals. On the other hand, the more radiosensitive lymphocytes were depressed greatly, and a limited recovery below normal values was obtained. The lymph to heterophil ratio of uninfected mice irradiated with 400 R recovered to normal values by 11 days postirradiation. However, decreases in the ratio of unirradiated or X-irradiated infected mice showed little recovery. During 6 to 10 days postinfection, a reduction in microhematocrit values after a dose of 400 R alone was not observed when a C. albicans infection was superimposed on X-irradiated mice. This difference was not due to changes in the red blood cell volume which was decreased by 400 R with or without infection, but was attributed to a greater decrease in plasma volume caused by a combination of X irradiation and infection. Reticulocyte counts indicated that recovery from the significant decrease in erythrocyte production caused by 400 R was retarded by a progressive infection. Elevated total serum protein of unirradiated mice at 6 days after infection was attributed to increases in - and ß-globulins. A dose of 400 R limited but did not prevent an increase - and ß-globulins upon subsequent infection. Candida species infection or 400 R or both did not greatly affect the concentration of -globulins. The albumin to globulin ratio of irradiated, infected mice was intermediate between those ratios found after X irradiation or infection.