COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION INDUCED BY WHOLE-BO DY (NEUTRON-GAMMA) IRRADIATION IN THE RAT - EFFECT OF LIPOSOME-ENTRAPPED CU ZN BOVINE SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE/

Our purpose was to define the efficiency of liposome-entrapped Cu/Zn s uperoxide dismutase on learning dysfunction in Spraque Dawley rats exp osed to neutron-gamma irradiation. Sequential behavioural studies incl uding one-way avoidance and two-way avoidance were undertaken from day 23 after irradiation. Considering the one-way avoidance test in non-t reated rats, neutron-irradiated animals show a lower percentage of avo idance (p=0,077) than sham-irradiated animals. This effect is prevente d by LIPSOD (p=0,000) though in sham-irradiated rats this treatment ha s an inhibitory effect (p = 0,024). Considering the two-way avoidance test, the '' irradiated and treated animals '' show significantly high er percentage of avoidance than the other three groups.