Ultrastructural Study on the Cerebellar Purkinje Cell of the Head-Irradiated Rat

과량의 방사선 국소조사가 흰쥐 소뇌 Purkinje세포의 미세구조에 미치는 영향

The acute irradiation effect on rat Purkinje cell was carried out. Anesthetized rats, weighing 200-250g each, were exposed their heads to the linear accelerator (ML-4MV) with the doses of 3,000 rads or 6,000 rads respectively. Irradiated rats were sacrificed by perfusion fixation under anesthesia, six hours, two days and six days following the irradiations. Rats were perfused with the fixative of 1% glutaraldehyde-1% paraformaldehyde solution (pH 7.4). Small pieces of cerebellar cortices were taken out. Tissue blocks were washed out, and were refixed in the 2% osmium tetroxide solution. After dehydration, tissues were embedded in the araldite mixture. Ultrathin sections stained with uranyl acetate-lead citrate solution, were examined with an electron microscope. The results observed were as follow; 1. Many dark Purkinje cells exhibited most severe cellular alterations on 6 hours. But after the 2 or 6 days, the cells exhibited only some alterations of cytoplasmic organelles. 2. Many granular and agranular endoplasmic reticula exhibited the fusion of cisterns. These reticular alterations were most severe on 6 hours following irradiation. But the alterations were hardly found on 6 days. 3. In the Golgi region, alterations including the adhesion of lamelliform cisterns, enlarged saccules, and increased number of vesicles, etc, were seen on 6 hours. But the Golgi complexes were almost recovered on 6 days. 4. Lysosomes were abundant on 6 hours or 2 days, but some residual bodies were found on 6 days. 5. Mitochondrial changes were also most severe at on hours, and they were recovered thereafter. From the results, it was concluded that the cerebellar Purkinje cells reacted to the high doses of irradiation by hyperactive protein synthesis, autolytic activities and energy metabolism. The reaction was most active in the early stage. It implies that motor-control function of Purkinje cells are severely disturbed in the early stage of irradiation.