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Updated: Aug 2, 2026
04:48
Chemotherapy-induced Vascular Toxicity - Real-time In vivo Imaging of Vessel Impairment
Published on: January 7, 2015
Potential vascular damage from radiation in the space environment
M L Griem1, A Robotewskyj, R H Nagel
1Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, IL 60637, USA.
Advances in Space Research : the Official Journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)
|October 1, 1994
Summary
Radiation exposure affects blood vessels, causing acute changes like altered diameter and permeability, and late effects such as vascular damage and architectural changes. Imaging techniques monitor these radiation-induced vascular effects.
Area of Science:
- Radiation biology
- Vascular biology
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Endothelial cells have a D0 of 2 Gy for X-rays.
- Radiation exposure can cause acute and late effects on blood vessels.
- Vascular changes impact various tissues, including the brain and bone.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the effects of radiation on vascular systems.
- To highlight imaging modalities for assessing radiation-induced vascular damage.
- To describe methods for non-invasive monitoring of microvasculature.
Main Methods:
- Review of radiation effects on endothelial cells and blood vessels.
- Discussion of acute effects (e.g., vessel diameter, permeability, blood-brain barrier).
- Analysis of late effects (e.g., telangiectasia, decreased vascular density, bone infarcts).
- Mention of imaging techniques like PET, MRI, CT.
- In-situ imaging using tandem scanning confocal microscopy.
Main Results:
- X-rays at 0.5 Gy acutely affect vessel diameter and permeability.
- Charged particles (15 and 30 Gy) induce blood-brain barrier and vascular changes in the nervous system.
- Chronic alpha particle exposure leads to vascular damage and bone infarcts.
- Tandem scanning confocal microscopy allows non-invasive serial recording of microvascular changes.
Conclusions:
- Radiation significantly impacts vascular architecture and function.
- Both acute and chronic radiation exposures induce detrimental vascular effects.
- Advanced imaging techniques are crucial for evaluating long-term radiation damage.
- Non-invasive microscopy offers a method for real-time assessment of microvascular response to radiation.
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