Comparison of histopathologic changes following X-irradiation of mid-thoracic and lumbosacral levels of neonatal rat spinal cord

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Anat. Rec.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.1092110212· OSTI ID:5776686

Heard, J K; Gilmore, S A

Light microscopic changes were studied in the dorsal funiculi of spinal cords from rats irradiated (4000 R) at 3 days of age and killed from 9-60 days postirradiation (P-I). The irradiated site was limited to a 5-mm length of mid-thoracic spinal cord (T only) in one group of rats, to a 5-mm length of lumbosacral spinal cord (L only) in a second group, and to 5-mm lengths of both mid-thoracic and lumbosacral spinal cord (T/L) in the third group. Changes in the lumbosacral regions were essentially the same in both L only and T/L irradiated groups. These changes included a decreased neuroglial population and a concurrent state of hypomyelination from 9-30 days P-I. In contrast, in the mid-thoracic regions of T only and T/L irradiated groups the decrease in the neuroglial population was obvious only through 13 days P-I, and by 30 days this population resembled that of the controls. The irradiated mid-thoracic areas were hypomyelinated, with the fasciculus gracilis showing a greater degree of hypomyelination than the fasciculus cuneatus. By 25 days P-I, myelination appeared to be normal in these areas. Scattered hemorrhages were noted in both lumbosacral and mid-thoracic regions, but necrotic areas occurred only at the lumbosacral level. In general, the mid-thoracic area appeared to be less sensitive to x-radiation at 3 days of age than the lumbosacral area. These data suggest that there may be marked differences in the developmental states of cells at these two levels at 3 days of age.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock
• OSTI ID: 5776686
• Journal Information: Anat. Rec.; (United States), Journal Name: Anat. Rec.; (United States) Vol. 211:2; ISSN ANREA
• 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.
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
HEMORRHAGE
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
LIPIDS
LIPOPROTEINS
MAMMALS
MICROSCOPY
MYELIN
NECROSIS
NEONATES
NERVE TISSUE
NERVOUS SYSTEM
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PROTEINS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RATS
RODENTS
SPINAL CORD
SYMPTOMS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION