skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: X-ray-induced cell death by apoptosis in the immature rat cerebellum

Abstract

The cells of the external granular layer (EGL) of the developing cerebellum are known to be particularly sensitive to radiation. In the past, changes induced in this layer by irradiation have been referred to by non-specific terms such as pyknotic cells and the mode of cell death has been assumed to be necrosis. However, in published light micrographs of these dying cells, the appearance is suggestive of apoptosis, a distinctive mode of cell death which occurs spontaneously in normal adult and embryonic tissues and can also be triggered by certain pathological stimuli. This light and transmission electron microscopic study of control and irradiated (7 h post-irradiation) rat cerebellum from 18 day fetuses and 5 day-old neonates showed that the cell death was effected by apoptosis. The apoptosis was markedly enhanced by x-irradiation and quantification of the cell death in the EGL of 5 day-old rats exposed to 4, 8, 25, 100, and 400 cGy x-irradiation demonstrated that there was a positive dose response relationship. The extent of cell death by apoptosis which was 0.2% in control, ranged from 0.8% after 4 cGy to 62.3% after 400 cGy x-irradiation. The recognition that cell death by apoptosis can be a major componentmore » of x-irradiation damage has important implications for radiobiological studies.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Queensland Medical School, Herston (Australia)
OSTI Identifier:
6936717
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Scan. Microsc.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 2:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; ANIMAL CELLS; RADIOSENSITIVITY; CEREBELLUM; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS; FETUSES; NECROSIS; NEONATES; RATS; SURVIVAL CURVES; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; X RADIATION; ANIMALS; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; BODY; BRAIN; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; IONIZING RADIATIONS; MAMMALS; MICROSCOPY; NERVOUS SYSTEM; ORGANS; PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES; RADIATION EFFECTS; RADIATIONS; RODENTS; VERTEBRATES; 560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals

Citation Formats

Harmon, B V, and Allan, D J. X-ray-induced cell death by apoptosis in the immature rat cerebellum. United States: N. p., 1988. Web.
Harmon, B V, & Allan, D J. X-ray-induced cell death by apoptosis in the immature rat cerebellum. United States.
Harmon, B V, and Allan, D J. 1988. "X-ray-induced cell death by apoptosis in the immature rat cerebellum". United States.
@article{osti_6936717,
title = {X-ray-induced cell death by apoptosis in the immature rat cerebellum},
author = {Harmon, B V and Allan, D J},
abstractNote = {The cells of the external granular layer (EGL) of the developing cerebellum are known to be particularly sensitive to radiation. In the past, changes induced in this layer by irradiation have been referred to by non-specific terms such as pyknotic cells and the mode of cell death has been assumed to be necrosis. However, in published light micrographs of these dying cells, the appearance is suggestive of apoptosis, a distinctive mode of cell death which occurs spontaneously in normal adult and embryonic tissues and can also be triggered by certain pathological stimuli. This light and transmission electron microscopic study of control and irradiated (7 h post-irradiation) rat cerebellum from 18 day fetuses and 5 day-old neonates showed that the cell death was effected by apoptosis. The apoptosis was markedly enhanced by x-irradiation and quantification of the cell death in the EGL of 5 day-old rats exposed to 4, 8, 25, 100, and 400 cGy x-irradiation demonstrated that there was a positive dose response relationship. The extent of cell death by apoptosis which was 0.2% in control, ranged from 0.8% after 4 cGy to 62.3% after 400 cGy x-irradiation. The recognition that cell death by apoptosis can be a major component of x-irradiation damage has important implications for radiobiological studies.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6936717}, journal = {Scan. Microsc.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 2:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988},
month = {Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988}
}