Mechanism of the formation of x-ray-induced phosphenes. I. Electrophysiological investigations

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3575240· OSTI ID:5099457

Doly, M; Isabelle, D B; Vincent, P; Gaillard, G; Meyniel, G

To explore one possible mechanism of the formation of phosphenes detected by astronauts during space flights, the x-ray stimulation of the photoreceptor cells of the eye was investigated. The albino rat's retina, maintained in culture by perfusion, was used for this study. The electrophysiological response (ERG) induced by x rays was found to be identical to the one produced by a visible light stimulation. Under our experimental procedure, only a direct interaction between incident radiation and retina induced such as ERG. Irrespective of whether the experiment was performed using the isolated retina or the whole animal, we found that the ERG amplitude was proportional to the logarithm of the exposure on the retina. A comparative study indicated that, to obtain the same ERG amplitude, the incident energy on the retina must be about 5 x 10/sup 6/ times larger for x rays (E = 40 keV) than for visible light (lambda = 489 nm). The analysis of these results leads us to assume that the x rays act on the rod's photosensitive molecule, rhodopsin.

• Research Organization: Laboratoire de Biophysique, Cedex, France
• OSTI ID: 5099457
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 82:1; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551000 -- Physiological Systems
560114 -- Radiation Effects on Biochemicals-- In Animals-- (-1987)
560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EYES
FACE
HEAD
IONIZING RADIATIONS
KINETICS
MAMMALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHYSIOLOGY
PIGMENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RATS
REACTION KINETICS
RETINA
RODENTS
SENSE ORGANS
STIMULATION
TISSUE CULTURES
VERTEBRATES
VISIBLE RADIATION
X RADIATION