Behavioral effects of neonatal irradiation of the cerebellum. I. Qualitative observations in infant and adolescent rats

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Abstract
The cerebellum of rats was irradiated from birth with daily doses of 200r for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 days. The animals were killed at fixed periods after irradiation and at various ages for histological evaluation of the cerebellum or they were permitted to survive for a prolonged period for behavioral testing. Gross measurement indicated that anteroposterior growth of the cerebellum was retarded as a function of the number of doses delivered except in animals that received a single dose of of 200 r. A number of pre‐ and post‐weaning qualitative behavioral observations (tremor, ataxia, level of activity) correlated with the retardation of cerebellar development produced by the irradiation schedules, though some behavioral recovery was noted in the older animals.