Dry Mass Distribution Changes in Mouse Bone Marrow Cell Population during the First 24 Hours after X—Irradiation as Determined by Interfereometry

LAF₁ mice were treated with a total-body dose of 800 r. x-ray. The dry mass distribution of the femur bone marrow cells was determined at different intervals postirradiation. The nonproliferating cells showed no significant dry mass change, whereas the proliferating cells of the myelocyte series had a steady increase in mean dry mass per cell. Few cells with the maximum dry mass increase survived at the end of 48 hours postirradiation. The dry mass distribution formed characteristic patterns for each postirradiation interval studied as the proliferating cells shifted to higher dry mass values with accompanied increase in cell sizes.