title: Histological alterations in the fetal mouse cerebellum after neutron irradiation: a light and electron microscopic study.
abstract: Histological effects of in utero neutron irradiation (0.5 Gy) were investigated in fetal mouse cerebellum. Irradiation was performed on the 18th embryonic day. Histological alterations were examined at 2, 6 and 12 h after irradiation. The effect was most pronounced in the EGL, 6 h after irradiation. In some cells (about 24%) karyopycnosis, destruction of cytoplasmic organelles and shrinkage were observed. Remnants of destroyed cells--the pycnotic nuclei with some cytoplasmic debris around them--were rapidly phagocytized by the surrounding cells. In addition to glial elements, the EGL germinal cells also showed phagocytic activity. Dense particles appearing light-microscopically as pycnotic nuclei, proved to be mostly remnants of destroyed, phagocytized cells under electron microscope.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009502:Neutrons; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors