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Early Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Roth NM, SontagMR, Kiani MF Microvascular networks, which control the deliveryof oxygen and nutrients and the removal of metabolic waste, are the mostsensitive part of the vascular system to ionizing radiation. Structural andfunctional changes in microvascular networks werestudied in locally irradiated (single 10-Gy dose) hamster cremastermuscles observed 3, 7 and 30 days post-irradiation. Networks were selected inreference to a well-defined location in the tissue to reduce heterogeneity dueto spatial variations. Intravital microscopy was usedto measure structural and functional parameters in vivo. A factorial design wasused to examine the effects of radiation status, time postirradiation,and network vessel type on the structure and function of microvascularnetworks. While the diameter of microvessels incontrol animals increased significantly with age, vessel diameter in irradiatedvessels decreased significantly with age. Red blood cell velocity in irradiatednetworks at 3 and 30 days postirradiation wassignificantly lower than in control networks. There was a significant decreasein capillary surface area and a significant increase in vessel hematocrit in irradiated animals. Blood flow in irradiatedvessels was significantly lower than in control vessels. Changes in functionalparameters were evident at 3 days postirradiationwhile changes in structural parameters occurred later. All vessel types werenot damaged equally by radiation at every time examined.
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