Behavioural consequences of an 8 Gy total body irradiation in mice: regulation by interleukin-4.
The effects of an 8 Gy gamma total body irradiation (TBI) on exploration and locomotion activities as well as temperature were studied in C57BL6/J mice. Survival, body weight, and blood cell counts were also assessed in irradiated mice treated with placebo or interleukin (IL)-4. The efficacy of IL-4 treatment on improvement in exploration activity was evaluated. The study was carried out from 3 h to 30 days following exposure. Our results showed a biphasic response to irradiation concerning the exploration activity of mice. Irradiated mice had reduced activity as early as 3 h after exposure, with recovery of activity within 24 h. The exploration activity again decreased 4 days after irradiation and the recovery occurred slowly after day 17. IL-4 ameliorated the exploration status in mice in both phases. The locomotion activity was studied using a telemetry apparatus. A similar pattern to that of the exploration data was observed, with a minimal activity observed between days 13 and 17. A radiation-induced hypothermia was also noticed over the same time period.
Institut de Protection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Département de Protection de la santé de l'Homme et de Dosimétrie, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France. anne.vandermeeren@ipsn.fr
A
A
Van der Meeren
L
L
Lebaron-Jacobs
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4