Some indications of structural damage in retina by heavy ion radiation

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6579347

Nelson, A C; Hayes, T L; Tobias, C A; Yang, T C

At the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Bevalac Facility, iron nuclei were accelerated to an energy of 600 MeV/amu. The beam of iron thus obtained was used to irradiate living biological specimens in order to study possible microscopic tissue damage with the aid of SEM. The experiments involved total head irradiation of live rats which were subsequently returned to their cages to remain for 1 day and 30 days before further examination. After the 1 day and 30 day waits, both eyes were enucleated and placed in chemical fixative followed by ethanol dehydration and critical point drying. Retinas were carefully removed from the eye cups and loaded separately on aluminum stubs which were sputter coated. SEM of the 1 day and 30 day retinas revealed lesions which were not found at all in control retinas. The 1 day and 30 day retinas manifest regions where outer rod segments were missing or rearranged. A single energetic iron nucleus may be capable of generating a retinal lesion which becomes enlarged as biological processes intervene during the 1 day and 30 day waits. Being composed of highly specialized nerve cells, retinas cannot regenerate following irradiation which severely damages the rod cells. Thus one would expect the observed radiation induced retinal lesions to correspond to permanent tissue damage and possible loss of visual acuity in the intact animal.

• Research Organization: Department of Nuclear Engineering and Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
• OSTI ID: 6579347
• Journal Information: Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States), Journal Name: Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States) Vol. 4; ISSN SEMYB
• 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
BEAMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
EYES
FACE
HEAD
ION BEAMS
IRON ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MICROSCOPY
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RATS
RETINA
RODENTS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SENSE ORGANS
VERTEBRATES