A Stereotactic Device for Experimental Rat and Mouse Irradiation Using Gamma Knife Model B – Technical Note

Summary

 Background. For radiobiological experiments using the Gamma Knife model B, we constructed a stereotactic device to irradiate rat and mouse brains and verify the absorbed dose at the target using thermoluminescence dosimetry and a head phantom.

 Methods. Our stereotactic device is primarily designed for rats using the fixation principles of a stereotactic atlas. A head-fixation adapter for a mouse was constructed to enable targeted irradiation of mouse brains. We built simple phantoms to simulate rat and mouse heads. We placed thermoluminescent dosimeters at various positions on the phantom for dose measurements. Dose planning employed the Leksell Gamma Plan version 4.11 software, assuming a spherical skull geometry for all calculations.

 Findings. The measurements demonstrated that the actual absorbed dose agreed with our calculations within the errors of thermoluminescence dosimetry and the accuracy of our irradiation technique and dose calculations.

 Interpretation. This device provides an accurate method for irradiating rat and mouse brains using the Gamma Knife model B.