Radiation-Induced Early Changes in the Brain and Behavior: Serial Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Behavioral Evaluation After Graded Dose of Radiation

Richa Trivedi¹, Ahmad Raza Khan¹, Poonam Rana¹, Seenu Haridas¹, BS Hemanth Kumar¹, Kailash Manda¹, Ram KS Rathore², Rajendra P. Tripathi¹, Subash Khushu¹

We performed serial quantitative DTI and behavioral study in mice during early phase of moderate (3 Gy), sub-lethal (5 Gy) and lethal (8 Gy) dose of gamma whole body irradiation. With regards to dose effect, our results showed that the higher radiation dose induce earlier and more severe neurobehavioral changes in the WM than the lower doses, and these differences could be reflected by the magnitude of change in FA values to some extent. This experimental model may be used to assess the neurotoxic adverse effects of irradiation treatment and to test the effectiveness of potential neuro-protective therapies.