Ultrastructural apoptotic lesions induced in bone marrow after neptunium-237 contamination.
This study describes the ultrastructure of lesions induced by neptunium-237 (237Np), a by-product of uranium in nuclear reactors, in the bone marrow. A group of rats were given a single injection of 237Np-nitrate solution in order to observe the acute toxicity effects of this actinide. Electron microscopy was used to describe the different lesions. Observations included the swelling of the cell membrane, nuclear membrane lyses, abnormal chromatin condensation or nucleus convolution. These ultrastructural alterations of the nucleus and the cellular membrane appeared shortly after treatment. This study demonstrates the toxic effects of neptunium and its implication in the induction of apoptosis in bone marrow.
Laboratoire de Microanalyses Nucléaires, UFR Sciences et Techniques, Université de Franche-Comté, 16, route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, France. david.pusset@univ-fcomte.fr
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D
Pusset
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H
Boulahdour
M
M
Fromm
J L
JL
Poncy
B
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Kantelip
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B
Griffond
M
M
Baud
P
P
Galle
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009405:Neptunium / Q000633:toxicity*; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D015388:Organelles / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011870:Radiologic Health / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014501:Uranium
D014501:Uranium; D009405:Neptunium