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Changes in the structural and functional state of the thyroid gland of small mammals when exposed to low-intensity chronic radiation

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Abstract

The study gives a morphofunctional assessment of the state of the thyroid gland of tundra voles (Microtus oeconomus Pall.) in conditions of an increased radiation background (the Ukhta district of the Komi Republic (Russia) and the 30-km zone of the Chernobyl NPP), as well as in an experiment with chronic external gamma irradiation in the low dose range. The work summarizes the experience of more than 35 years of field and laboratory research. The authors have noted the high sensitivity of the thyroid gland to chronic radiation against the general irradiation of the organism both in natural conditions and in the experiment. The repeatability of the observed effects in voles from natural populations and the comparability of some effects with the morphological changes occurring in animals after exposure to ionizing radiation in the experiment indicates the radiation nature of these effects. The tundra voles living in conditions of increased radiation background have been identified for a greater variety of morphological rearrangements in the thyroid parenchyma than the experimental animals. The complex and ambiguous nature of the thyroid gland responses to radiation exposure indicates the possibility of a significant increase in the risk of negative effects of ionizing radiation in contrast with the expected results of biological effects’ extrapolation from high to low doses.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Lyudmila Batura, laboratory assistant, Radioecology Department, Institute of Biology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, for her assistance in the preparation of histological drugs.

Funding

The study was carried out within the framework of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education project of the Institute of Biology of Komi Science Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science “The effect of ionizing radiation and factors of non-radiation nature on biological objects and biogenic migration of heavy natural radionuclides” (number 122040600024-5).

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  1. Institute of Biology Federal Research Centre Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kommunisticheskaya 28, Syktyvkar, Russian Federation, 167982

    Olga Еrmakova & Оksana Raskosha

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  1. Olga Еrmakova
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Olga Еrmakova and Оksana Raskosha. Preparation of the initial draft was carried out by Olga Еrmakova. All authors read, edited, and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Оksana Raskosha.

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All animals were kept in a vivarium in the scientific collection of experimental animals of the Institute of Biology of the Komi Scientific Center, the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (http://www.ckp-rf.ru/usu/471933/), in accordance with the “Regulations on the vivarium of experimental animals” (Protocol no. 1 dated January 24, 2017), complying sanitary-hygienic and bioethical requirements. The work with animals was carried out in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament on Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes.

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Еrmakova, O., Raskosha, О. Changes in the structural and functional state of the thyroid gland of small mammals when exposed to low-intensity chronic radiation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 34170–34183 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33504-6

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