title: Hippocampal dysfunctions caused by cranial irradiation: a review of the experimental evidence.
abstract: Cranial irradiation (IR) is commonly used for the treatment of brain tumors but may cause disastrous brain injury, especially in the hippocampus, which has important cognition and emotional regulation functions. Several preclinical studies have investigated the mechanisms associated with cranial IR-induced hippocampal dysfunction such as memory defects and depression-like behavior. However, current research on hippocampal dysfunction and its associated mechanisms, with the ultimate goal of overcoming the side effects of cranial radiation therapy in the hippocampus, is still very much in progress. This article reviews several in vivo studies on the possible mechanisms of radiation-induced hippocampal dysfunction, which may be associated with hippocampal neurogenesis, neurotrophin and neuroinflammation. Thus, this review may be helpful to gain new mechanistic insights into hippocampal dysfunction following cranial IR and provide effective strategies for potential therapeutic approaches for cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yeonghoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Miyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Hongbing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, South Korea. Electronic address: moonc@chonnam.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Changjong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003071:Cognition / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000528:radiation effects; D008568:Memory / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Cranial radiation; Hippocampal dysfunction; Neurogenesis; Neuroinflammation; Neurotrophin