Original contribution
The late effects of radiation on the blood brain barrier

https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(86)90133-1Get rights and content

Abstract

Rats were irradiated with 60 to 20 Gy in a single dose focussed to a volume of 0.5 cc in the center of the left hemisphere. Breakdown of the BBB was detected by (a) the presence of spikes on EEG after subcutaneous injection of Bicuculline methiodide, and (b) the presence of staining following Evans Blue dye injection. Breakdown of the BBB (mean and standard deviation) occurred in 3846 of the 60 Gy rats at 98 ± 16 days, 711 of the 50 Gy rats at 128 ± 25 days, 1118 of the 40 Gy rats at 162 ± 3 days, 511 of the 30 Gy rats at 178 ± 5 days and, 712 of the 20 Gy rats at 217 ± 7 days post irradiation. This study suggests that endothelial damage could be the principle mechanism mediating the late radiation syndrome.

Keywords

Radiation
CNS
Endothelium
Blood-brain barrier

Cited by (0)

This research was supported by the Veterans Administration and the USPHS NIH Grant No. 1 RO1 NS 17777.

Dept. of Neurology.

Dept. of Pathology

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