The Combined Effects of Hyperthermia and Ionizing Radiation on the Adult Mouse Spinal Cord

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Abstract
Adult mouse spinal cord temperatures of 42.degree. C were maintained for over 60 min by immersing the intact thoraco-lumbar area in a 44.degree. C water bath. A scoring system which assessed both mild and severe radiation myelopathy was used. Single radiation doses to the thoraco-lumbar spinal cord immediately before or after localized hyperthermia shortened the postirradiation latent period for both mild and sever myelitis, when compared to control mice which received only spinal cord irradiation or heat 2 wk prior to irradiation. Significantly lower doses of radiation produced severe myelitis in 50% of the mice (MD50) at both 6 and 9-12 mo. postirradiation in the 2 groups in which heat and radiation were given almost together as compared to the MD50 for control mice (irradiation alone or heat and radiation separated by 2 wk). Possible mechanisms for this apparent hyperthermic spinal cord radiosensitization were discussed.