A STEREOTAXIC DEVICE FOR EXPERIMENTAL GAMMA-KNIFE RADIOSURGERY IN RATS - A TECHNICAL NOTE

A rat stereotactic device was designed for use in Gamma Knife radiosur gery. Experimental radiosurgical lesions were made in superficial and deep cerebral structures to verify the accuracy of the coordinate syst em, which is based on a standard rat stereotactic atlas. Calculated do sages were shown to be accurate utilizing thermoluminescence dosimetry . Two additional features of the device permit the surgical positionin g and placement of electrodes, and postmortem slicing of the brain acc ording to the same coordinate system. This new apparatus allows precis e and repeatable gamma irradiation of the rat brain without the need f or expensive and time-consuming imaging techniques. Studies of this ty pe will provide a rapid means for examining the effects of radiosurger y on the central nervous system.