Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Drug Treatment and In Vivo Imaging of Osteoblast-Osteoclast Interactions in a Medaka Fish Osteoporosis Model
Published on: January 1, 2017
A small fish model for quantitative analysis of radiation effects using visualized thymus responses in GFP transgenic
Kouichi Maruyama1, Norimasa Iwanami2, Takako Maruyama-Hayakawa3
1a National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology , Inage-ku , Chiba , Japan.
Abstract:
Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish a new method of real-time, in vivo detection of radiation damage and recovery. Methods: The thymus was observed under fluorescent light in a green fluorescent protein transgenic medaka. After irradiation, medaka thymus images were analyzed to quantify the effects of radiation by measuring changes in thymus size. A single acute irradiation of X-rays (0-30 Gy) or heavy Fe ions (0-10 Gy) was delivered to the medaka. Images were captured 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 21 d after irradiation. Dose-response assessment was conducted to provide a direct measurement of the effects of the radiation. Conclusion: A biomonitoring system to detect the effects of radiation in real time was established. Using this system, the threshold doses for the induction of thymic atrophy by acute X-rays and Fe ions were 2-5 Gy and 0.5-1 Gy, respectively. The Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) of Fe-ion to X-rays was estimated to be around 3. This system may be used to evaluate the risk from concurrent exposure to hazards, such as chemicals and radiation, and for aging research.
Related Concept Videos
Biological Effects of Radiation
Osmoregulation in Fishes
Quantitative Analysis
In quantitative analysis, two key measurements are made: the sample quantity and a property proportional to the amount of the analyte (the substance being analyzed). This forms the basis of the...
Transgenic Organisms
Radiation: Applications
The average...
Absorption of Radiation

