Speaker
Ms
Daisy Lafuente
("Rovira i Virgili" University)
Description
In nuclear power plants accidents, such as Chernobyl or Fukushima, fission-product radioisotopes (137Cs, 90Sr, 239Pu and 131I) are released to the atmosphere. These radioactive compounds contaminate extended field areas and groundwater. As a result of these incidents, the population are exposed to external and internal ionising radiation.
The brain is highly sensitive to ionising radiation during foetal and early post-natal period. That interval corresponds to the time of rapid proliferation and neuroblast migration from proliferative zones to the cerebral cortex. In previous studies, with the children exposed in utero to Chernobyl radiation and Hiroshima’s survivors, have been shown that the foetal exposure to high doses of radiation increased the risk of mental retardation, small head size and lower IQ. However, the cognitive effects of low dose radiations have not been yet defined.
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of internal low doses of 137Cs during pregnancy on the postnatal development and behaviour of the offspring. At the GD12, 137Cs was administrated through the drinking water at radiation doses of 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Bq/Kg. The Functional Observation Battery (FOB) was assessed 1 and 3 months after birth. To evaluate the spontaneous behavior, learning, memory capacities and anxiety behavioural tests were conducted at the age of 4 months. In general terms, exposure of pregnant females to low doses of caesium, resulted in a dose dependent slight changes in behavioral patterns.
Keywords: 137Cs, internal low dose radiation, behavioural tests, mice
Primary author
Ms
Daisy Lafuente
("Rovira i Virgili" University)
Co-authors
Dr
Montserrat Bellés
("Rovira i Virgili" University)
Dr
Sergio Gonzalo
("Rovira i Virgili" University)
Dr
Victoria Linares
("Rovira i Virgili" University)
