THE EFFECT OF IONIZING RADIATION UPON MITOCHONDRIA OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM |
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| Authors: | S L Cohan J R Abbott G N Catravas |
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| Institution: | Department of Neurobiology, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute and Department of Neurology, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20014, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | After irradiation of rats with a linear electron accelerator, the respiratory rate in rat brain mitochondria was studied in the presence of substrate + ADP and after the conversion of ADP → ATP. After 20,000 rads of irradiation to the head there was a transient diminution of mitochondrial respiratory control when glutamate was used as the substrate, but no changes were observed when succinate was the substrate. Irradiation with 10,000 rads had no effect upon respiratory control. The addition of NADH2 to irradiated mitochondria had no effect upon mitochondrial respiration. Irradiation of the brain with 20,000 rads failed to produce mitochondrial peroxidation or swelling, even in the presence of FeNH4(SO4)2 or ascorbate. The slight changes in respiratory control of brain mitochondria following irradiation is in marked contrast to the susceptibility of mitochondria from other organs. The comparative radioresistance of brain mitochondria may be the result of greatly diminished radiation-induced peroxidation of cerebral mitochondrial membranes. |
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