title: Detection of early gamma-postirradiation effects in murine spleen by proton NMR relaxation times.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It was our aim to evaluate the potential of proton relaxation times for the early detection of radiation-induced spleen changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Swiss mice were irradiated with doses ranging from 0.05 Gy to 4 Gy. The body weight, the spleen weight and the spleen water content of single animals were determined. Measurements of longitudinal (T1) and transversal (T2) proton relaxation times of the spleen samples were performed in a 0.47 T spectrometer. Histological examinations of the control and irradiated organs were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NMR measurements during the first five days after irradiation showed that total body gamma-irradiation with doses from 1.5 Gy to 4 Gy results in decreasing T1 of the murine spleen. Significant shortening in T2 was observed for the spleen of animals irradiated with a dose of 4 Gy. Histological examinations demonstrated subnormal architecture in slices derived from animals irradiated with 2 Gy and 4 Gy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fluctuations of the spleen T1 and T2 of irradiated mice are correlated with relative spleen weight and can be used to estimate radiation induced changes in this organ.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Résonance Magnétique en Biologie et Médecine, Université de Rennes I, 35043 Rennes, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zebrowska
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lewa
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ramee
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Husson
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: De Certaines
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size; D011522:Protons; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D011522:Protons