Depleted uranium (DU) has been widely applied in industrial and military activities, and is often obtained from producing fuel for nuclear reactors. DU may be released into the environment, polluting air, soil, and water, and is considered to exert both radiological and chemical toxicity. In humans and animals, DU can induce multiple health effects, such as renal tubular necrosis and bone malignancies. This review summarizes the known information on DU's routes of entry, mechanisms of toxicity, and health effects. In addition, we survey the chelating agents used in ameliorating DU toxicity.
Animals ; Chelating Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Uranium ; metabolism ; toxicity

Ionizing radiation causes the massive apoptosis of human tissue cells,leading to dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract and hematopoietic system.Thus,high-efficiency,low-toxicity radiation protection drugs are urgently needed.Toll-like receptor agonists have been developed based on the anti-apoptotic mechanism of tumor cells in recent years,which exert their radioprotective effects by activating downstream pathways,mainly nuclear factor-κB.Here we elucidate several agonists of Toll-like receptors involved in radiation protection,with an attempt to inform the research and development of new radiation protection agents.
Apoptosis ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; Radiation Protection ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Radiation-Protective Agents/pharmacology* ; Toll-Like Receptors/agonists*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides on testicular injury induced by exposure to high power microwave (HPM) in rats.

METHODSA total of 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the microwave radiation model group, the treatment group, the new microwave radiation model group, and the prevention group, 6 in each group. All rats, except those in the normal control group, were exposed to microwave at an average power density of 200 mW/cm2 for 6 min. Rats in the control group and the model group were administered with normal saline by gastrogavage, once a day. Rats in the treatment group and the prevention group were given with Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides by gastrogavage, 2 mL each time (400 mg/kg body weight), once a day. All rats were sacrificed on the 11th day.The sperm density and the rate of sperm deformity were determined. Pathological changes of testis were observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSShort-term HPM irradiation could significantly reduce the sperm density and increase the sperm deformity rate (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, obvious pathological changes of testes occurred. Compared with the two model groups, the sperm density increased and the sperm deformity rate decreased in the treatment group and the prevention group (P < 0.05). Under the light microscope, injuries of spermatogenic cells and stromal cells, as well as vascular dilatation and congestion were obviously alleviated in the treatment group and the prevention group. Mitochondrial swelling and endoplasmic reticulum expansion shown by ultrastructural observation were also significantly alleviated. Of them, injuries of spermatogenic cells and inflammation response were milder in the treatment group than in the prevention group.

CONCLUSIONSInonotus obliquus polysaccharides had significant protective effect on microwave radiation induced testicular injury. Better effect was obtained by therapeutic medication than preventive medication.

Animals ; Basidiomycota ; chemistry ; Male ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Renshen Yangrong Decoction (人参养荣汤, RYD) in protecting bone marrow from radiation injury.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty Kuming mice were subjected to the three tests for anti-radiation injury effect evaluation, i.e. the test of peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count, the test of bone marrow nucleated cell count, and the bone marrow micronucleus test, using 60 mice for each test. The mice in each test were divided into 6 groups: the blank control group, the model control group, the positive control group treated by Shiyiwei Shenqi Tablet (十一味参芪片, 1.0 g/kg), and three RYD groups treated with high (42.0 g/kg), moderate (21.0 g/kg), and low (10.5 g/kg) doses of crude drugs of RYD, with 10 mice in each group. The treatment was given by gastrogavage perfusion continuously for 7-14 days before mice received (60)Co-γ ray radiation and continued until the end of the experiment. The body weights of the mice were monitored, the changes in peripheral WBC and bone marrow nucleated cells were counted, and the variation in bone marrow micronucleated cells was observed on the respective appointed days.

RESULTSA significant decrease in body weight, peripheral WBC count, and bone marrow nucleated cell count, as well as marked changes in bone marrow micronucleated cells were observed in the mice after radiation, indicating that the radiation injury model was successfully established. As compared with the model control group, the decrease in body weight, peripheral WBC count, and bone marrow nucleated cell count, as well as the increase in bone marrow micronucleus cell count in the high dosage RYD treated group were obviously inhibited or lessened (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONRYD showed obvious protective effect in mice with bone marrow injury induced by radiation.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Bone Marrow ; drug effects ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Leukocyte Count ; Mice ; Radiation Injuries ; blood ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology

To study the expression of the bFGF and its receptor in the mouse bone marrow by treatment with acute radioactive injury and Ligustrazine, 56 mice were divided into 3 groups: normal group, radiation-injured group and Ligustrazine group. After irradiation by 6.0 Gy 60Co gamma-ray, each mouse was orally given 0.1 ml Ligustrazine twice a day for 13 days in Ligustrazine group, and each mouse in radiation injured group was orally given equal amount of saline. On the 3rd, 7th, 14th day after irradiation, bone marrow mono-nuclear cells (BMMNC) were counted, and the expression levels of bPGF and bFGFR in bone marrow were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry analysis respectively. On the 3rd, 7th, 14th day after irradiation, expression of bFGF in bone marrow were significantly lower than in normal group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Expressions of bFGF and bFGFR were much higher in Ligustrazine treated group than that in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Ligustrazine potentiate the expression of bFGF and bFGFR in bone marrow MNC to recover the bone marrow hematopoiesis inductive microenvironment, which is one of the mechanisms by which Ligustrazine rebuild the bone marrow hematopoiesis after acute radioactive injury.
Bone Marrow Cells/metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/*biosynthesis ; Hematopoiesis/drug effects ; Pyrazines/*pharmacology ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental/*metabolism ; Radiation-Protective Agents/pharmacology ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor/*biosynthesis

NPC is a high incidence of malignant tumors of the head and neck, and is currently used mainly radiotherapy based, supplemented by a comprehensive treatment of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which have serious complications and serious impact on the treatment of patients and quality of life. Polyphenols are the main component of tea. Studies have shown that tea polyphenols have a significant anti-tumor effect of im proving the effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, reducing radiation damage, reducing conventional chemo therapy drugs IC50 and reducing the complications of chemotherapy. Tea polyphenols in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma has also made great progress. It has a strong inhibition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, and can greatly reduce the occurrence of xerostomia after radiotherapy, which is of important clinical research value.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Polyphenols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Tea ; chemistry

PURPOSE: To evaluate the protective effects of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against UV irradiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. METHODS: UV irradiation was produced by a UV lamp for 30 seconds with an irradiance of 3.3 mW/cm2. After 5 minutes and 1 hour, we administered different concentrations of EGCG (0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 uM). The cell count was determined under a microscope using a counting chamber and the cell activity was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: The cell count of cultured human RPE cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the EGCG administration group, compared with the non-administrated group. The cell activity of the cultured human RPE cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the EGCG administration group and was increased in a dose-dependent way as determined by the MTT assay. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of EGCG increased the cell count and the cell activity after UV irradiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells; this suggests that EGCG provided protection against UV damage in cultured human retinal pigmented epithelial cells.
Antioxidants/*pharmacology ; Catechin/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Cell Count ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Humans ; Pigment Epithelium of Eye/cytology/*drug effects/radiation effects ; Radiation Injuries/pathology/*prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; Spectrophotometry ; *Ultraviolet Rays

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Sarcandra glabra in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by γ-ray irradiation in the parotid gland of miniature pigs.

METHODSForty-five male miniature pigs were randomly divided into control group, radiation group and radiation plus medication group, and each group contained 3 parallel groups (subgroups a, b and c). From 1 week before exposure of the parotid gland region to 15 Gy γ-ray irradiation (which was not administered in the control group), the miniature pigs in radiation plus medication group were given Sarcandra glabra powder, while those in the other groups received an equal amount of saline. Bilateral parotid glands were taken and weighed on the days 10, 40 and 90 following the exposure in subgroups a, b, and c, respectively, and ROS content in the parotid glands were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe content of ROS was significantly lower in radiation plus medication group than in the radiation group (P<0.01). In the radiation plus medication group, the ROS content showed no significant difference between subgroups a and b or between subgroups a and c (P>0.01), but differed significantly between subgroups b and c (P<0.01). Sarcandra glabra showed a strong ROS-scavenging effect 10 days after the irradiation, and the ROS content was similar with that in the control group (P>0.01); at 40 and 90 days, the ROS-scavenging effect of Sarcandra glabra was still observable, but the ROS content was significantly higher in the irradiation plus medication group than in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSarcandra glabra displays a ROS-scavenging effect in the parotid gland of miniature pigs against irradiation, especially at 10 days following the exposure, which may serve as the main mechanism for the protective effect of Sarcandra glabra against radiation injury in the parotid gland.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Male ; Parotid Gland ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Radiation Injuries ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

This study was aimed to investigate the radioprotective effects of recombinant human interleukin-12 (rhIL-12) on monkey hematopoietic system, and to provide experimental evidence for future clinical prophylaxis and treatment for patients who suffered from acute radiation syndrome. In in vitro study, the effect of rhIL-12 in different concentrations (0, 1, 5, 25, 125 and 625 ng/ml) on colony forming capacity of human or monkey bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells was examined in methylcellulose H4434 medium. In in vivo study, the acute radiation syndrome model was established in 11 Rhesus monkeys which received lethal total body irradiation by 6 Gy (60)Co γ in single time irradiation. The irradiated monkeys were randomly divided into 3 subgroups: control group (n = 4) which received subcutaneous PBS injection, rhIL-12 single-dose group (n = 3) which received subcutaneous single injection of rhIL-12 (4 µg/kg) at 2 h after irradiation, and multiple-dose group (n = 4) which received subcutaneous injection of rhIL-12 (1 µg/kg per injection) at 2 h, day 3, 6 and 9 after irradiation respectively. Peripheral blood cells were counted before and after irradiation every other day. The survival status of animals were observed daily. In vitro test results showed that different concentrations of rhIL-12 obviously promoted human and healthy monkeys' bone marrow mononuclear cells to form various hematopoietic progenitor cell colonies, especial CFU-E and CFU-GM. All animals in control group died within 22 d after lethal total body irradiation, average survival time was (20.3 ± 1.2) d. Only one monkey in multiple-dose group died due to anemia on day 17. All monkeys in single-dose group survived. Compared with control group, rhIL-12-administrated monkeys' white blood cell count, hemoglobin level, platelet and reticulocyte counts showed faster recovery from high dose radiation. It is concluded that the rhIL-12 treatment can promote the bone marrow hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell colony formation in vitro and protect lethally-irradiated monkeys. There is an obvious therapeutic effect of rhIL-12 on monkeys suffered from bone marrow failure caused by severe acute radiation exposure.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; pharmacology ; Macaca mulatta ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; pharmacology

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of WR2721(amifostine) against bone marrow hematopoietic damage of mice exposed to 6.5 Gy of (60)Co-γ ray. A total of 60 C57/BL6J mice was divided into 3 groups:normal group (mice were injected with physiological salt solution), irradiation group (mice were injected with physiologic salt solution before irradiation) and WR2721 group (mice were injected with WR2721 before irradiation). The WBC, neutrophil (Neut), Plt and RBC levels in peripheral blood of 3 group mice were counted within 60 days after irradiation; the bone marrow nuclear cells (BMNC) were counted at 2 and 24 hours after irradiation; the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (LK/LSK) level and colony formation capability were detected by flow cytometry at 2 and 24 hours after irradiation. The results indicated that the counts of WBC and neut at 4 and 18 days, Plt at 7-18 days and RBC at 10-30 day after irradiation in WR2721 group were higher than those in irradiation group (P < 0.05); the BMNC, LSK and LK levels obviously increased at 24 hours after irradiation (P < 0.05), the CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-MK BFU-E and CFU-E all significantly increased at 2 and 24 hours after irradiation (P < 0.01), as compared with irradiation group. It is concluded that WR2721 can effectively alleviate early hematopoietic damage and promote the fast recovery of peripheral blood cells in mice exposed to γ-ray, suggesting that the WR2721 has significant radioprotective effect on hematopoietic system.
Amifostine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Blood Cell Count ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Gamma Rays ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Whole-Body Irradiation