Radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction: an experimental model in the old rat.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a model of radiation-induced behavioral dysfunction.


METHODS
A course of whole brain radiation therapy (30 Gy/10 fractions/12 days) was administered to 26 Wistar rats ages 16-27 months, while 26 control rats received sham irradiation. Sequential behavioral studies including one-way avoidance, two-way avoidance, and a standard operant conditioning method (press-lever avoidance) were undertaken. In addition, rats were studied in a water maze 7 months postradiation therapy.


RESULTS
Prior to radiation therapy, both groups were similar. No difference was found 1 and 3 months postradiation therapy. At 6-7 months postradiation therapy, irradiated rats had a much lower percentage of avoidance than controls for one-way avoidance (23% vs. 55%, p < or = 0.001) and two-way avoidance (18% vs. 40%, p < or = 0.01). Seven months postradiation therapy the reaction time was increased (press-lever avoidance, 11.20 s vs. 8.43 s, p < or = 0.05) and the percentage of correct response was lower (water maze, 53% vs. 82%) in irradiated rats compared with controls. Pathological examination did not demonstrate abnormalities of the irradiated brains at the light microscopic level.


CONCLUSIONS
Behavioral dysfunction affecting mainly memory can be demonstrated following conventional radiation therapy in old rats. This model can be used to study the pathogenesis of radiation-induced cognitive changes.
Lamproglou
I
I
Laboratoire de Biophysique, Faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat, Paris, France.
Chen
Q M
QM
Boisserie
G
G
Mazeron
J J
JJ
Poisson
M
M
Baillet
F
F
Le Poncin
M
M
Delattre
J Y
JY
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000528:radiation effects; D001921:Brain / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar