MOTOR, CYTOARCHITECTURAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACOLOGICAL NEUROPROTECTION AGAINST CNS DAMAGE INDUCED BY NEONATAL IONIZING RADIATION EXPOSURE

GUELMAN, L. R; ZORRILLA ZUBILETE, MA; RÍOS, H; DI TORO, C. G; DOPICO, A. M; ZIEHER, L. M.

Brain Research Protocols

Elsevier

Año: 2001 vol. 7 p. 203 - 210

1385-299X

Exposure of neonatal rats to a 5 Gy single dose of X-irradiation induces permanent abnormalities in cerebellar cortex cytoarchitectureand neurochemistry and motor function. This rodent model constitutes an useful tool to evaluate morphological, neurochemical and motorchanges induced by ionizing radiation and the possible restorative effects of potential or clearly established neuroprotective drugs. Afterselection and administration of a neuroprotective agent to neonatally irradiated rats, quantitative evaluations of motor behavior (gait),cerebellar cortex cytoarchitecture and cerebellar monoamine levels are performed. Data are compared to those of both saline-injected,X-irradiated, and saline-injected, sham-irradiated controls. Evaluation of data from the different experimental groups is performed atpostnatal days 30 and 90. After this postnatal interval, radiation-induced damage of cerebellar function in nonprotected rodents isconsidered to be permanent. The longitudinal evaluation of various parameters in the different experimental groups through amultidisciplinary approach, allows determination of the variables that are more sensitive to X-irradiation-induced damage and/orneuroprotective agent-induced restoration. Given the well-known correspondence in cerebellar developmental stages between rodents andhumans, this model and related studies bring health-related implications, considering the accidental or therapeutic exposure of developinghuman beings to ionizing radiation.