Effects of Hypofractionated and Standard Fractionated Irradiation of Mice Heads with Gamma-Rays and Protons on Their Pheripheral Blood Parameters and Behavior

Abstract

Experiments were performed to study the action of fractionated irradiation of mice heads with -rays and protons on their peripheral blood parameters and behavior by the "Open Field" test. Mice were irradiated in two variants of fractionated irradiation: (1) traditional fractionation (in radiation therapy): 2 Gy once a day, 5 times a week, the total radiation dose 20 Gy; (2) extreme hypofractionation: 10 Gy once a week, on Mondays, the total radiation dose 20 Gy. The results of the study showed that irradiation of mice heads has no effect on their peripheral blood parameters in both variants of the applied fractionated irradiation and the behavior of mice does not depend on the type of ionizing radiation and the variant of fractionated exposure that we used. On the basis of these results it can be concluded that the option of extreme hypofractionation we have chosen can successfully replace traditional fractionation, which in some cases is applied when carrying out radiotherapy for treating brain tumors. The application of this type of fractionation can lead to shorter terms of radiotherapy and bigger patient capacity of medical centers that conduct radiotherapy.