Developmental disturbance of rat cerebral cortex following prenatal low-dose gamma-irradiation: a quantitative study

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Experimental Neurology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4886(91)90129-Z· OSTI ID:5639337

Fukui, Y; Hoshino, K; Hayasaka, I; Inouye, M; Kameyama, Y ^[1]

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1. Kagawa Medical School, (Japan)

Pregnant rats were exposed to a single whole-body gamma-irradiation on Day 15 of gestation at a dose of 0.27, 0.48, 1.00, or 1.46 Gy. They were allowed to give birth and the offspring were killed at 6 or 12 weeks of age for microscopic and electron microscopic examinations of the cerebrum. Their body weight, brain weight, cortical thickness, and numerical densities of whole cells and synapses in somatosensory cortex were examined. Growth of the dendritic arborization of layer V pyramidal cells was also examined quantitatively with Golgi-Cox specimens. A significant dose-related reduction in brain weight was found in all irradiated groups. Neither gross malformation nor abnormality of cortical architecture was observed in the groups exposed to 0.27 Gy. A significant change was found in thickness of cortex in the groups exposed to 0.48 Gy or more. Cell packing density increased significantly in the group exposed to 1.00 Gy. Significant reduction in the number of intersections of dendrites with the zonal boundaries were found in the groups exposed to 0.27 Gy or more. There was no difference in the numerical density of synapses in layer I between the control and irradiated groups. These results suggested that doses as low as 0.27 Gy could cause a morphologically discernible change in the mammalian cerebrum.

• OSTI ID: 5639337
• Journal Information: Experimental Neurology; (USA), Journal Name: Experimental Neurology; (USA) Vol. 112:3; ISSN EXNEA; ISSN 0014-4886
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CEREBRAL CORTEX
CEREBRUM
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
GAMMA RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
MAMMALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
ORGANS
PREGNANCY
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
RATS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION