Neonatal exposure to a moderate dose of ionizing radiation causes behavioural defects and altered levels of tau protein in mice

• Medical use of ionizing radiation (IR) has great benefits for treatment and diagnostic imaging, butprocedures as computerized tomography (CT) may deliver a significant radiation dose to the patient.Recently, awareness has been raised about possible non-cancer consequences from low dose exposure toIR during critical phases of perinatal and/or neonatal brain development.In the present study neonatal NMRI mice were whole body irradiated with a single dose of gammaradiation (0; 350 and 500 mGy) on postnatal day 10 (PND 10). At 2 and 4 months of age, mice of bothsexes were observed for spontaneous behaviour in a novel home environment. The neuroproteinsCaMKII, GAP-43, synaptophysin and total tau in male mouse cerebral cortex and hippocampus wereanalysed 24 h post-irradiation and in adults at 6 months of age exposed to 0 or 500 mGy on PND 10.A significantly dose-response related deranged spontaneous behaviour in 2- and 4-month-old micewas observed, where both males and females displayed a modified habituation, indicating reducedcognitive function. The dose of 350 mGy seems to be a tentative threshold. Six-month-old male miceshowed a significantly increased level of total tau in cerebral cortex after irradiation to 500 mGy compared to controls. This demonstrates that a single moderate dose of IR, given during a defined criticalperiod of brain development, is sufficient to cause persistently reduced cognitive function. Moreover, anelevation of tau protein was observed in male mice displaying reduced cognitive function.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Annan naturvetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Other Natural Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

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