Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of cellular alternations in the hippocampus of rats after prenatal x-ray irradiation using manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI). All radiation-exposed rat brains showed a prominent dilatation of the cerebral ventricle. The enhanced areas by MEMRI decreased between the DG (dentate gyrus) and CA3 (cornu ammonis region 3) areas in radiation-exposed rats compared to normal rats. Compared to non-exposed rats, whole-brain volumes of radiation-exposed rats significantly decreased. Moreover, no histopathological abnormalities were observed except for a decrease in cell density in the hippocampal region. In conclusion, MEMRI can detect developmental abnormalities of the brain in the hippocampus in a radiation-exposed rat model.
