State of synapses of the cortex of cerebral hemispheres on gamma-irradiation

In adult rats with developing neurological disorders we detected destructive changes in most of the synapses of the brain sensorimotor cortex 1.6-4.3 h after a single dose of gamma-irradiation (200 Gy). All functionally important parts on the axonal and dendritic sides of the synapses had undergone changes: mitochondria, synaptic vesicles, pre- and postsynaptic membranes, synaptic complexes, and subsynaptic consolidations, axonal and dendritic plasma, and their inclusions. These changes possibly cause disconnection of the neurons and provide a structural basis for neurological deficiencies following a high substantial ionizing radiation.