Electrophysiological responses of the mouse retina to 12C ions.
Sannita, Walter G ; Peachey, Neal S ; Strettoi, Enrica ; et al. ; - ASI Sponsor
Apr - 2007
ISSN : 0304-3940 ;
journal : Neuroscience letters

Issue : 3
type: Article Journal

Abstract
Phosphenes (light flashes) have been reported by most astronauts on space missions and by healthy subjects whose eyes were exposed to ionizing radiation in early experiments in particle accelerators. The conditions of occurrence suggested retinal effects of heavy ions. To develop an in vivo animal model, we irradiated the eyes of anesthetized wild-type mice with repeated bursts of 12C ions delivered under controlled conditions in accelerator. 12C ions evoked electrophysiological retinal mass responses and activated the visual system as indicated by responses recorded from the visual cortex. No retinal immunohistological damage was detected. Mice proved a suitable animal model to study radiation-induced phosphenes in vivo and our findings are consistent with an origin of phosphenes in radiation activating the retina.

keywords : Animals,Carbon,Electroretinography,Electroretinography: methods,Female,Heavy Ions,Inbred C57BL,Mice,Nerve Tissue Proteins,Nerve Tissue Proteins: metabolism,Phosphenes,Phosphenes: radiation effects,Retina,Retina: anatomy \& histology,Retina: radiation effects,Visual Cortex,Visual Cortex: physiology,Visual Cortex: radiation effects,Visual Pathways,Visual Pathways: physiology,Visual Pathways: radiation effects