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: IV. Effects of X-Irradiation on the Chemical Composition of Rabbit Brain

Abstract

Normal values for the per cent water, lipid, protein, and undigested residue as well as the sodium and potassium content (milliequivalents per kilogram of fresh tissue) are reported for various regions of the brain of rabbits approximately 1 year old. No significant change occurs in the water content of the gray matter, medulla, cerebellum, or mid-brain of rabbits sacrificed 7 days after 2.0 kr of x irradiation. A significant increase in the per cent lipid and protein occurs in the mid-brain region. A significant decrease occurs in the undigested residue fraction of the cerebellum. A significant increase occurs in the sodium content of the cerebral gray matter. There is no significant change in the potassium content of any region of the brain studied in this investigation. (auth)