Background: The tolerance dosis and the pathogenetic mechanism of postactinic myelopathy after irradiation with fast neutrons have not been exactly defined yet. Postactinic myelopathy often ends in paraplegia or death. A truly effective causal therapy does not exist. Material and methods: 78 heterozygous nude mice were divided into five groups and treated with total doses from 7 to 15 Gy in a period between four and ten days. 180 days after irradiation the animals were killed and their spinal cords were prepared histologically. The sections were stained with hematoxylin eosin and myelin sheath staining according to Klüver-Barrera. Results: Neurological impairment or motoric paralysis could not be observed in any of the cases. Low focal doses were tolerated by the animals without any light microscopical alterations. Higher total doses provoked severe, dose-dependent perivascular and vascular infiltration. No parenchymal alterations were demonstrable by light microscopy in any of the cases. Inflammatory infiltrations of the vessels were always restricted to subdural or peridural spaces. Conclusions: The present study subtantiates the occurence of early, primary inflammatory vascular changes during the so-called latency period after irradiation without manifestation of neurological impairment. Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that the murine spinal cord tolerates a focal dosis of 7 Gy 180 days after irradiation without clinical nor light microscopical alterations.

Keywords:
Tolerance dosis, Spinal marrow, Neutron radiotherapy, Histologic changes
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© 1992 S. Karger AG, Basel
1992
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