Rats were irradiated with 60 to 20 Gy in a single dose focussed to a volume of 0.5 cc in the center of the left hemisphere. Breakdown of the BBB was detected by the presence of spikes on EEG after subcutaneous injection of Bicuculline methiodide, and the presence of staining following Evans Blue dye injection. Breakdown of the BBB (mean and standard deviation) occurred in 38/46 of the 60 Gy rats at 98 +/- 16 days, 7/11 of the 50 Gy rats at 128 +/- 25 days, 11/18 of the 40 Gy rats at 162 +/- 3 days, 5/11 of the 30 Gy rats at 178 +/- 5 days and, 7/12 of the 20 Gy rats at 217 +/- 7 days post irradiation. This study suggests that endothelial damage could be the principle mechanism mediating the late radiation syndrome.