Experimental set-up for irradiating mouse brain tissue with a beam of 22.5-Mev deuterons from the 60-inch cyclotron

Experimental set-up for irradiating mouse brain tissue with a beam of 22.5-Mev deuterons from the 60-inch cyclotron. These experiments are part of a program designed to investigate the biological effects of cosmic ray primaries upon brain tissues. In this case, the deuterons were used to simulate primary cosmic ray particles. Although, in some cases, a maximum dose of 1,100,000 rads (a rad is the unit of absorbed dose, and is the equivalent of 100 ergs per gram of any material) was administered, with beams ranging from 1mm to 0.025 mm in diameter. None of the animals exhibited any abnormal reactions after irradiation. This may indicate that the biological effects of primary cosmic rays may not be nearly as damaging as has been supposed. After the experimental animals were sacrificed, however, destruction of tissue components along the center of the beam path was observed, and histologic lesions were produced within 24 days of exposure, at a threshold dose of about 75,000 rads., Credit Line: Photo courtesy Brookhaven National Laboratory. For Publication Permission Request contact Jane Koropsak, BNL-Media and Communications, jane@bnl.gov, Tel: 631-344-4909
Abstract/Description: Experimental set-up for irradiating mouse brain tissue with a beam of 22.5-Mev deuterons from the 60-inch cyclotron. These experiments are part of a program designed to investigate the biological effects of cosmic ray primaries upon brain tissues. In this case, the deuterons were used to simulate primary cosmic ray particles. Although, in some cases, a maximum dose of 1,100,000 rads (a rad is the unit of absorbed dose, and is the equivalent of 100 ergs per gram of any material) was administered, with beams ranging from 1mm to 0.025 mm in diameter. None of the animals exhibited any abnormal reactions after irradiation. This may indicate that the biological effects of primary cosmic rays may not be nearly as damaging as has been supposed. After the experimental animals were sacrificed, however, destruction of tissue components along the center of the beam path was observed, and histologic lesions were produced within 24 days of exposure, at a threshold dose of about 75,000 rads.
Subject(s): Laboratories
Radioactivity
Nuclear physics--Research
Cosmic rays
Radiation carcinogenesis--Animal models
Equipment and supplies
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Date Created: circa 1959
Credit Line: Photo courtesy Brookhaven National Laboratory. For Publication Permission Request contact Jane Koropsak, BNL-Media and Communications, jane@bnl.gov, Tel: 631-344-4909
Catalog ID: Brookhaven National Laboratory F17