Responses of Neonatal Rat Spinal Cords to High Energy Protons

Abstract

High energy protons directed through lumbar cords of rats 3 to 16 days old caused a high incidence of neurologic abnormalities regardless of age at irradiation. These changes are discussed in relation to previous work with roentgen irradiation. Spinal cords of rats irradiated when 3 days old and killed 2 to 11 days later showed a marked decrease in the quantity of neuroglia with a consequent hypo- or amyelination. These rather selective alterations are compared with late, nonspecific histopathologic changes in the chords described above.