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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Functional Interrogation of Adult Hypothalamic Neurogenesis with Focal Radiological Inhibition
Published on: November 14, 2013
Intermittent fasting alleviates irradiation-induced neuronal mitochondrial damage in mice
Yaqi Li1,2,3, Xingwen Fan2,4,5,6, Yulei Pei2,4,5,6
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Shanghai, China.
Purposes:
Radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) is a common side effect of cranial radiotherapy. Intermittent fasting (IF) decreases the risk of Brain aging disease by affecting mitochondrial function. We examined the effects of IF on mitochondrial function, neurogenesis, morphology of hippocampal neurons and cognitive abilities in a whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) mouse model.
Methods:
6-8 weeks old male C57BL/6J mice received 10 Gy WBRT. IF group mice were subjected to cycles of 24 h food restriction followed by 48 h ad libitum access to food. Ultrastructural changes in the mitochondria of mice hippocampus and the ATP concentrations were evaluated at 6 h and 6 weeks post-irradiation. The hippocampal neurons were analyzed by Golgi staining with ImageJ. Animal behavior and newborn neurons (DCX+) were assessed 6 weeks after WBRT.
Results:
The proportion of swollen mitochondria in hippocampal neurons was significantly decreased in the IF+WBRT group than the WBRT (p = 0.0005) group at 6 h post-irradiation; At 6 weeks post-irradiation, the proportion of swollen mitochondria in the WBRT group remained significantly greater than that in the control group (p = 0.0003). ATP concentrations were higher in the IF+WBRT group than in the WBRT group (p = 0.0576). DCX+ numbers (p = 0.0049), neuron length (p = 0.0021), numbers of branches (p = 0.0262) and branch points (p = 0.0098) were significantly greater in the IF+WBRT group than in the WBRT group. Compared with the WBRT group, the IF + WBRT group presented significantly shorter open-arm time in the elevated plus-maze test (p = 0.0082).
Conclusions:
IF mitigates RIBI by reducing mitochondrial damage, promoting neurogenesis, and partially restoring ATP levels at the early stage, although its behavioral effects remain limited. The beneficial effect of IF is time-dependent and more prominent in the acute phase of RIBI.
