Suppressed neurogenesis without cognitive deficits: effects of fast neutron irradiation in mice

Neuroreport. 2019 May 22;30(8):538-543. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001237.

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of combined low-dose neutron and γ-ray irradiation on hippocampal neurogenesis and hippocampal-dependent memory. Neural progenitor cell division and survival were evaluated in brain sections and whole hippocampal preparations following head irradiation at a dose of 0.34 Gy for neutron radiation and 0.36 Gy for γ-ray radiation. Hippocampal-dependent memory formation was tested in a contextual fear conditioning task following irradiation at doses of 0.4 Gy for neutron radiation and 0.42 Gy for γ-ray radiation. Cell division was suppressed consistently along the entire dorsoventral axis of the hippocampus 24 h after the irradiation, but quiescent stem cells remained unaffected. The control and irradiated mice showed no differences in terms of exploratory behavior or anxiety 6 weeks after the irradiation. The ability to form hippocampus-dependent memory was also unaffected. The data may be indicative of a negligible effect of the low-dose of fast neutron irradiation and the neurogenesis suppression on animal behavior at 6 weeks after irradiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Division / radiation effects
  • Conditioning, Classical / radiation effects*
  • Electromagnetic Radiation*
  • Hippocampus / radiation effects*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neural Stem Cells / radiation effects
  • Neurogenesis / radiation effects*