Studies on the Chemical Composition of the Central Nervous System in Relation to the Effects of X-Irradiation and of Disturbances in Water and Salt Balance: II. Effects of X-Irradiation on the Chemical Composition of Brain Tissues in Dogs

Abstract

Since high dosage of X-irradiation given to the head can directly impair the functions of brain tissues (1), it seems logical to look for some biochemical basis for such functional disturbances. In the literature there are reports on the effects of X-irradiation on the water content of the brain (2, 3). However, these studies were done on the analysis of whole brain. As pointed out in an accompanying paper (4), the chemical compositions of the various parts of the brain are so different that the results of the analysis of whole brain are of questionable significance. Since normal values have been obtained on several brain tissues with very small variances (4), and since deviations in appropriate directions from these normal values can be demonstrated with disturbance of water and electrolyte balance (5), it was decided to use the same techniques to analyze for the chemical composition of brain tissues of dogs subjected to X-irradiation. It was hoped that such information would aid in the understanding of the chemical basis for the functional manifestations seen after X-irradiation.