Capillary loss precedes the cognitive impairment induced by fractionated whole-brain irradiation: A potential rat model of vascular dementia

Brain tumor patients who are long-term survivors after whole-brain irradiation (WBI) often suffer cognitive impairment, including dementia. Although the pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood, our studies suggest that radiation-induced cognitive impairment may be a form of vascular dementia. We used a fractionated dose of γ-rays that is biologically similar to that given to brain tumor patients. The brains of adult rats were irradiated with 40 Gy, in eight 5 Gy fractions over 4 weeks. Cognitive function was assessed prior to WBI and up to 9 months post-irradiation using a partially-baited radial arm maze. A significant increase in working memory errors was found in the irradiated rats by two-way ANOVA (p = 0.0042). The increased errors occurred primarily at 6 and 9 months (p < 0.05, student's t-test). Vessel density was quantified using a stereology method with computerized image processing and analysis. Vessel density was unchanged 24 h after the last dose, but significantly decreased (p = 0.002), by approximately 30%, from 10 weeks to 52 weeks. Thus, cognitive impairment arose after brain capillary loss in irradiated rats that show no other gross brain pathology. Capillary loss may play an important role in radiation-induced dementia and this may be a model of vascular dementia.