Ionizing radiation decreases veratridine-stimulated uptake of sodium in rat brain synaptosomes.

Veratridine-stimulated uptake of sodium-22 in brain synaptosomes was significantly reduced by ionizing radiation over a dose range of 10 to 1000 rads. The response was dose-dependent and involved a decrease in the maximum effect of veratridine on uptake. The central nervous system may be more sensitive to ionizing radiation than generally thought, perhaps through a loss of the ability of the sodium channel to respond properly to stimulation.