Relationship between linear energy transfer and behavioral toxicity in rats following exposure to protons and heavy particles.
Rats were exposed to protons (155 MeV) or to helium (165 MeV/amu), neon (522 MeV/amu) or argon (670 MeV/amu) particles to evaluate the behavioral toxicity of these types of radiations. Behavioral toxicity was assessed using the conditioned taste aversion paradigm. Exposure to all types of radiation produced dose-dependent increases in the intensity of the acquired taste aversion. However, the intensity of the aversions, measured as the dose that produced a 50% decrease in the intake of the sucrose-conditioned stimulus, did not show significant variation as a function of the linear energy transfer (LET) of the radiation. The results are discussed in terms of the relationship between LET and behavioral toxicity.
Rabin
B M
BM
Behavioral Sciences Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20889-5145.
Hunt
W A
WA
Joseph
J A
JA
Dalton
T K
TK
Kandasamy
S B
SB
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000528:radiation effects; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004735:Energy Transfer; D008297:Male; D009502:Neutrons; D011522:Protons; D051381:Rats
D011522:Protons