A whole-body radiation dose of 25 rad (0.25 Gy) is most likely to produce which of the following?

A whole-body radiation dose of 25 rad (0.25 Gy) is most likely to result in lymphocyte depression because this level of exposure primarily affects rapidly dividing cells in the body, which includes lymphocytes—an essential component of the immune system.

When the body is exposed to ionizing radiation, the immediate effects can be seen in tissues that have high turnover rates. Lymphocytes, produced in the bone marrow and circulating in the blood, are particularly sensitive to radiation. A dose of 25 rad can lead to a decrease in the number of circulating lymphocytes, reducing the body's immune response. This phenomenon is often observed in clinical settings following radiation exposure and is significant in understanding radiation's impact on the hematopoietic system.

In contrast, while cytogenic damage, epilation, and depletion of oogonia may occur with higher doses of radiation or under specific circumstances, they are less likely to manifest at this particular dose of 25 rad. For instance, cytogenic effects may require higher doses to be clearly observable, and both epilation (loss of hair) and depletion of oogonia (female reproductive cells) typically occur at doses that exceed 25 rad, as they affect more specialized tissue types that may not be directly influenced at