REVIEW OF RESEARCH IN U.S.S.R. 481 



because much Western work does not support the hypothesis. However, the 

 possibiUty of an adrenal cortical mechanism must be kept in mind. 



Alterations in Afferent Activity 



Some stimulatory mechanisms are not pathologic. This sort of reaction 

 is typified by the radiation phosphene, covered thoroughly at this conference 

 by Lipetz. Recently the Soviet literature also carried a detailed article on 

 radiation phosphenes by Gurtovoy and Burdyanskaya (1960), who showed 

 this phenomenon in humans receiving 0.2-3 mr. Using blinded subjects, it 

 was established that as much as 3 r to the occipital lobe did not produce 

 the phosphene, and the evidence is clear that it originates in the retina. 



There are several Soviet reports on electroretinograms. Lebedinsky 

 (1959a) cites evidence for changes in frog preparation after 10 r. He has 

 discussed alterations in human EEG responses to an increasing light level, 

 and it seems entirely possible that subliminal retinal changes are involved 

 in the observed alterations. 



Receptors other than the retina may be afTected by radiation. One possi- 

 bility is a change in the sensitivity of an undamaged receptor; this seems 

 to have been involved in the work of Gorbunova and Rikotova (1958), w^ho 

 found that 2 rad of beta rays given locally to the intestinal mucosa led to 

 an alteration following standard surface stimulation. Similar findings were 

 noted with much higher doses to the skin by Delitsyna (1959a, b), who 

 measured afferent activity from the rabbit paw after doses of 500-5,000 r. 

 With the larger values, one would expect frank ulceration and changes in 

 receptor threshold. 



Other Soviet work suggests that there are changes in afiferent inflow from 

 the gut, spleen, bladder, lymph nodes, and elsewhere following irradiation. 

 Livanov (1959; Livanov et al., 1960a) has stressed central change due to this 

 activity, as noted, and he finds alterations in the firing rates of subcortical 

 structures, such as the reticular fomiation and hypothalamus of irradiated 

 rabbits, using implanted electrodes. The possibilities of a humoral mech- 

 anism and retinal effects need consideration. It does not appear to be clear 

 whether radiation may cause changes in the spontaneous firing rates or 

 stimulation thresholds for the neurons themselves, as opposed to receptor 

 reactions. 



Damage to the Nervous System with Antenatal Irradiation 



Histologic findings after much exposure have been noted. In general, 

 production of CNS congenital anomalies has been given some attention in 

 the Soviet literature, but not nearly so full a treatment as seen in the 



