ISSN:
0003-276X
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Intramedullary Schwann cells have been observed following x-irradiation of lumbosacral spinal cords in immature rats. The present investigation was designed to determine whether or not the development of intramedullary Schwann cells within the spinal cord could be influenced by the portion of the spinal cord exposed to radiation. Three groups of rats were irradiated when three days of age. In one group the irradiated zone was limited to a 5 mm length of mid-thoracic spinal cord (T only), in another group the irradiation was limited to a 5 mm length of lumbosacral spinal cord (L only), and in a third group 5 mm lengths of both mid-thoracic and lumbosacral spinal cord (T/L) were irradiated. All of these animals received a single exposure to 4000 R of soft x-rays (HVL 0.16 mm Al). Sham-irradiated littermates served as control animals. Groups of rats were killed at intervals from 9 through 60 days following irradiation, and the spinal cords were prepared for light microscopic examination. Schwann cells appeared in the lateral portion of the lumbosacral dorsal funiculi of L only and T/L irradiated spinal cords as early as 9 days post-irradiation. By 19 days post-irradiation Schwann cells occupied the lateral, medial, and deep medial portions of the dorsal funiculi in the lumbosacral areas. By 25 days post-irradiation Schwann cells were also observed in the dorsal gray horns. In contrast, Schwann cells were not observed in the midthoracic regions of T only and T/L irradiated rats until 11 days post-irradiation. The accumulation of these cells was not extensive, and, in general, the Schwann cells were confined to the lateral portion of the dorsal funiculi in all animals. These findings indicate that intramedullary Schwann cell development is influenced by the region of spinal cord irradiated in immature rats.
Additional Material:
9 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ar.1091970108
