BEHAVIORAL AROUSAL AND NEURAL ACTIVATION AS RADIOSENSITIVE REACTIONS
Technical Report
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OSTI ID:4726160
In a study designed to detect prompt reactions to ionizing radiation, rats were exposed to 250 kvp x rays and measurements of behavioral departures from sleep and of heart rate were used to indicate activation of the central nervous system. Exposure at a low dose rate (0.25 r/sec) produced a transitory arousal from sleep within the first 12 seconds (accrued dose of 3 r). At a higher dose rate (1.9 r/sec) this initial reaction increased in scope and, by 30 seconds, included also an acceleration in heart rate. Only animals exposed at the higher dose rate exhibited evidence of excitation during the residual period of exposure to a 1,000 r total dose. Accordingly, the intensity of the reaction during exposure depended upon the dose rate rather than the total dose. A transient excitatory effect at the termination of exposure was indicated by the occurrence of behavioral wakefulness for a period of minutes following exposure at both dose rates. The excitatory effects of irradiation were not dependent upon adrenal function since adrenalectomized animals showed a sequence of reactions comparable to that shown by normal animals but with longer latencies. Stimulation through radiosensitive mechanisms apart from the visual receptor system was indicated since ophihalmectomized animals exhibited both behavioral and heart rate responses within seconds after the start of exposure. Some possible modes for the action of ionizing radiation as a stimulus to the nervous system are discussed. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Naval Radiological Defense Lab., San Francisco
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-019809
- OSTI ID:
- 4726160
- Report Number(s):
- USNRDL-TR-624
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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