Incapacitation and performance decrement in rats following split doses of fission spectrum radiation.

Behavioral incapacitation in rats after exposure to high dose (8-20 krads) fission spectrum radiation was measured with a shock-avoidance jump box. An early transient incapacitation (ETI) which was consistent and dose-dependent lasted from 10-20 minutes after a single pulse of either 8200 or 15 300 rads. This was followed by temporary recovery, permanent incapacitation, and death. There was little or no ETI after a second pulse of 8200 rads, given 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or 24 hours after the first pulse.