Effect of accelerated argon ions on the retina

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3577067· OSTI ID:6823302

Krebs, W; Krebs, I; Merriam, Jr, G R; Worgul, B V

It has been postulated that high energy heavy ions cause a unique form of damage in living tissue, which results from the high linear energy transfer of accelerated single particles. We have searched for these single-particle effects, so-called microlesions, in composite electron micrographs of retinas of rats which had been irradiated with a dose of 1 Gy of 570 MeV/amu argon ions. The calculated rate of energy deposition of the radiation in the retina was about 100 keV/micron and the influence was four particles per 100 micron 2. Different areas of the irradiated retinas which combined would have been expected to be traversed by approximately 2400 particles were examined. We were unable to detect ultrastructural changes in the irradiated retinas distinct from those of controls. The spatial cellular densities of pigment epithelial and photoreceptor cells remained within the normal range when examined at 24 h and at 6 months after irradiation. These findings suggest that the retina is relatively resistant to heavy-ion irradiation and that under the experimental conditions the passage of high energy argon ions does not cause retinal microlesions that can be detected by ultrastructural analysis.

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., New York, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6823302
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 115:1; ISSN RAREA
• 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
ARGON IONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CELL DIVISION
CHARGED PARTICLES
DOSES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENERGY TRANSFER
EPITHELIUM
EYES
FACE
HEAD
IONS
MAMMALS
MICROSCOPY
ORGANS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RATS
RETINA
RODENTS
SENSE ORGANS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES