THE EFFECTS OF 3Gy TOTAL BODY IRRADIATION ON MOUSE INTESTINAL INTRAEPITHELIAL LYMPHOCYTES' NUMBER AND FUNCTIONS

To explore the characteristics of intestinal mucosal immunity after radiationinjury, IEL number, proliferation activity! cytotoxic activity as well as the TNF-α and TGF-β concentrations of supernatant of cultured IEL were studied using IEL freshly isolated from whole small intestine of Kunmimg strain mice received 3Gy total body 60Co γ-ray irradiation. The proliferation activity, cytotoxic activity as well as the number of IEL in small intestinal mucosa were significantly decreased at 8h post-irradiation, reaching lowest level at 72h. The TNF-α and TGF-β concentrations of supernatant of cultured IEL isolated from irradiated mice were elevated at 8h, reaching peak at 72h. That the decrease in number and functions of IEL may play an important role in the damage intestinal mucosal immunity barrier after total body irradiation.