Experimental Studies On Pathogenesis Of The Brain Radiation Injury In Early Stage

Over the past several decades, it has become clear that radiation therapy is effective against most types of brain, head and neck tumors, but that it may induce catastrophic damage to the normal brain. The tolerance of normal brain tissue to irradiation is the primary factor limiting the dose of radiotherapy for all those cancer. Such complications of therapy are debi 1 itating, and should be avoided at all cost. This potential has stimulated considerable experimental and clinical interest. In spite of significant effort and resources expended, there still exists considerable uncertainty of exactly when, how, and what biochemical, morphologic, and physiologic events precipitate what is known as acute, subacute, and late delayed radiation damage of the brain.To investigate the pathogenesis of the animal brain radiation injury in the early stage, a series experiments were performed as below:Part 1. Objective: To develop a small animal model in which to assess the normal brain response to ionization radiation in the early stage. Methods: The mature Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were placed in the prone position under chloral hydrate anesthesia, irradiation was administered by the single dose of 10, 20, and 30 Gy of 4 MeV electron, customized lead shielding was designed to...