REPAIR OF SUBLETHAL RADIATION-DAMAGE BY CAPILLARIES

Neovascularization was induced surgically in normally avascular canine corneas to study the repair of sublethal damage in slowly proliferating capillary endothelial cells. Neovascularization was stimulated for 7 days after split dose treatments with 6Co γ-rays. Corneal tissue samples were evaluated by quantitative morphometric methods. A time recovery curve was drawn by plotting per cent capillary volume vs time between two equal doses. A typical Elkind type" of time recovery response was observed. A split dose response assay resulted in an incremental dose D2-D1 of 265 rad at the 1% capillary volume level. The results suggest a substantial repair capacity for capillary endothelial cells. © 1979."