Abstract
Ionizing radiation causes severe damage in the epithelium of the small intestine; this is particularly evident in the crypts of Lieberkuhn. (43, 52, 62, 86) It halts the mitoses in the crypts except for cells dividing at the time of irradiation. Often the daughter cells of the latter are abnormal or the division is aborted. | Further radiation damage in the intestine includes shrinkage of the villi, shallowing of the crypts, and vacuolization and desquamation of the epithelium. (64, 94) Examination with the electron microscope has pointed out changes in the epithelial cells — loss and shortening of microvilli, smaller and fewer mitochondria — after 200 to 3000 r of whole-body irradiation. (25, 47, 79)