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Effect of prenatal ionizing radiation on the visual cortex and hippocampus of newborn squirrel monkeys. [/sup 60/Co]

Journal Article · · J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol.; (United States)

Five squirrel monkeys were exposed to 200 rads whole-body ionizing irradiation (/sup 60/Co) at 0.4 rads per second on approximately the seventy-fifth day of gestation, and six squirrel monkeys were sham-irradiated. The mean cortical depth and the mean number of neurons per mm/sup 3/ in the visual cortex was less in irradiated animals than in controls, but the differences were not statistically significant. The mean number of glial cells in this cortical region was significantly lower in the irradiated animals. In the hippocampus, the depth of the stratum oriens and the combined depth of the strata radiatum, lacunosum, and moleculare were significantly less in irradiated than in control animals. Canonical correlations provided statistical evidence for greater radiation vulnerability of the hippocampus compared to motor and visual areas of the cerebral cortex.

Research Organization:
Tulane Univ., Covington, LA
OSTI ID:
6880286
Journal Information:
J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol.; (United States) Vol. 39:5; ISSN JNENA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English