Effects of High-LET Neon (²⁰Ne) Particle Radiation on the Brain, Eyes and Other Head Structures of the Pocket Mouse: A Histological Study

Summary

A study was made of tissues from 130 pocket mice after a single head-only exposure to high-LET ²⁰Ne particle radiation at 1000, 100 or 10 rad (nominal surface dose) with the view of obtaining base-line data regarding the effectiveness of HZE (cosmic-ray) particles during spaceflight.

First seen at 2–3 weeks after exposure, necrotic neurons in the cerebrum reached peak incidence (0·04 per cent at 1000 rad, 0·003 per cent at 100 rad and < 0·0005 per cent at 10 rad) after 4–5 weeks and decreased to low levels thereafter. Incidence in the cerebellum was lower. Neuroglia, cells of the subependymal matrix and dentate gyrus precursor cells suffered acute damage at 1000 and at 100 rad. At 1000 rad, enlarged hyperchromatic neuroglia, first noted at 3 weeks, increased in number up to 7 months, then declined. Alterations in the retina and olfactory epithelium were seen at 1000 rad, and reaction in the scalp at 100 rad. Damage was incurred by dentinoblasts at 10 rad.

Changes similar to those observed in pocket mice were found in the brains of gerbils and C57B1 mice.