Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
The brain is a target organ after acute exposure to depleted uranium

AuteurLevaestel, Houpert, Bussy….
6-05-0-00-27.pdf
Datumjuni 2005
Classificatie 6.05.0.00/27 (VERARMD URANIUM - ALGEMEEN (oa. Gezondheidsonderzoek))
Voorkant

Uit de publicatie:

                                                     Toxicology 212 (2005) 219–226




The brain is a target organ after acute exposure to depleted uranium
     P. Lestaevel a,∗ , P. Houpert a , C. Bussy a , B. Dhieux a , P. Gourmelon b , F. Paquet a
                     a   Institut de Radioprotection et de Sˆuret´e Nucl´eaire, D´epartement de Radio-Protection de l’Homme,
                                Laboratoire de Radio-Toxicologie Exp´erimentale, BP 166, 26702 Pierrelatte, France
                     b   Institut de Radioprotection et de Sˆuret´e Nucl´eaire, D´epartement de Radio-Protection de l’Homme,
                                                     BP 6, 92265 Fontenay aux Roses, France

                             Received 11 March 2005; received in revised form 29 April 2005; accepted 6 May 2005
                                                       Available online 13 June 2005



Abstract

   The health effects of depleted uranium (DU) are mainly caused by its chemical toxicity. Although the kidneys are the main
target organs for uranium toxicity, uranium can also reach the brain. In this paper, the central effects of acute exposure to DU
were studied in relation to health parameters and the sleep–wake cycle of adult rats. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with
144 ± 10 ␮g DU kg−1 as nitrate. Three days after injection, the amounts of uranium in the kidneys represented 2.6 ␮g of DU g−1
of tissue, considered as a sub-nephrotoxic dosage. The central effect of uranium could be seen through a decrease in food intake
as early as the first day after exposure and shorter paradoxical sleep 3 days after acute DU exposure (−18% of controls). With a
lower dosage of DU (70 ± 8 ␮g DU kg−1 ), no significant effect was observed on the sleep–wake cycle. The present study intends
to illustrate the fact that the brain is a target organ, as are the kidneys, after acute exposure to a moderate dosage of DU. The
mechanisms by which uranium causes these early neurophysiologica