Status of low-energy accelerator-based BNCT worldwide and in Argentina.

Existing and active low-energy Accelerator-Based BNCT programs worldwide will be reviewed and compared. In particular, the program in Argentina will be discussed which consists of the development of an Electro-Static-Quadrupole (ESQ) Accelerator-Based treatment facility. The facility is conceived to operate with the deuteron-induced reactions Be(d,n)B and C(d,n)N at 1.

Present status of Accelerator-Based BNCT.

Aim: This work aims at giving an updated report of the worldwide status of Accelerator-Based BNCT (AB-BNCT).

Background: There is a generalized perception that the availability of accelerators installed in hospitals, as neutron sources, may be crucial for the advancement of BNCT. Accordingly, in recent years a significant effort has started to develop such machines.

Present status of accelerator-based BNCT: Focus on developments in Argentina.

In this work we provide some information on the present status of accelerator-based BNCT (AB-BNCT) worldwide and subsequently concentrate on the recent accelerator technology developments in Argentina.

Dopamine- and cholecystokinin-containing neurons of the crossed mesostriatal projection.

The projection of the substantia nigra-ventral tegmental area (SN-VTA) to the ipsilateral and contralateral caudate-putamen was studied with double-labeling fluorescence techniques in the albino rat. By combining glyoxylic acid histofluorescence with retrograde fluorescence tracers, we were able to determine that 93% of the minor (1-2%) contralateral mesostriatal pathway is catecholaminergic. In addition, combined immunofluorescence and retrograde fluorescence tracer studies showed that 50% of the crossed mesostriatal pathway also arises from cholecystokinin-containing neurons.