AROUSAL REACTIONS WITH A BRIEF PARTIAL-AND WHOLE-BODY X-RAY EXPOSURE,
Abstract
A study was made to determine the sensitivity of the mammalian nervous system to non-visual stimulation with ionizing radiation. Blinded rats were exposed, while asleep, to a one-second burst of X rays and measurements of behavioral arousal and heart rate were made to indicate activation of the central nervous system. The stimulus was immediately effective since reaction latencies of one second or less were frequently recorded. The relative incidence of arousal and of a heart rate reaction, was found to be related to the radiation dose rate over the range of from 0.05 to 3.2 r/sec. The threshold dose rate was less than 0.05 r/sec. To test for regional distribution of sensitivity, additional blinded animals were exposed to a burst of X rays at the dose rate of 1.0 r/sec. with exposure limited to the head region or to the rest of the body. The results of the study are consistent with the postulation that ganglionic tissue is directly sensitive to ionizing radiation. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 23, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0421070
Entities
People
- D. J. Kimeldorf
- E. L. Hunt
Organizations
- Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory