Effects of Heavy Ion Particle Irradiation to Bone Metabolism of the Rats of Different Ages

INTRODUCTION In early studies it was observed that the effects of radiation such as X-, Gamma ray on bone growth were related on the age at exposure and to the radiation dose. Bone growth stunting by irradiation was more effective in the young and was more pronounced after higher radiation dose. Recently, heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) in our institute was developed in order to treat a cancer therapy and while the fundamental researches on radiation biology including our interesting space radiation effects have been carried out. However, the effects of heavy ion particle irradiation on the body are not known because such researches have just started. The purpose of this present study was to clarify the dose-response and age-response on bone tissue and bone mineral density in rats with the heavy ion particle irradiation.