[Effects of small fluxes of heavy charged particles on neurons of the rats' cerebral cortex in delayed periods following irradiation].

Dystrophic changes in neurons of the sensorimotor cortex of rat's brain in delayed periods following exposure to small fluxes, i.e. 104 and 105 particles/cm2, of accelerated carbon, fluorine, and oxygen ions with an energy of 300 MeV/nucleon and 137Cs gamma-rays at a dose of 1.0 Gy were quantitatively analyzed. Some structural changes of varying degree including death of a part of neurons were observed; however, most of the cells looked unaltered. Glial elements and small blood vessels also developed a reaction. Dynamics of the morphologic changes was studied. Higher effectiveness of small fluxes of heavy charged particles versus gamma-radiation at a dose of 1.0 Gy and dependence of the depth of structural disorders on linear energy transfer were demonstrated.