X-Ray Dose and Electroconvulsive Responses in Adult Rats

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Abstract
Electroshock seizure responses were studied in control and irradiated adult male rats exposed to single, whole-body, X-ray doses of 15, 20, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 r. Irradiation produced a statistically significant, dose-dependent reduction in electro-shock threshold which lasted 2 to 3 weeks after 15 or 20 r, 2 to 3 months after 25 to 250 r and more than 8 months after 500 r. Alterations in pattern of maximal electroshock seizures occurred only after doses of 50 r or more and lasted generally for the entire experimental period even after the lower effective doses: they consisted of a shortening of the duration of clonus and total seizure after 50 to 500 r and a lengthening of tonic extension with shortening of tonic flexion after 500 r. These data suggest that 15 to 500 r. (a) increase brain excitability; (b) induce an earlier than normal onset of neuronal fatigue, and (c) affect various parameters of brain activity to a different degree suggesting a differential radiosensitivity of specific regions and functions of the central nervous system.

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