There is still a need for better protection against or mitigation of the effects of ionizing radiation following conventional radiotherapy or accidental exposure. The objective of our current study was to investigate the possible roles of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, ilomastat, in the protection of mice from total body radiation (TBI), and the underlying protective mechanisms. Ilomastat treatment increased the survival of mice after TBI. Ilomastat pretreatment promoted recovery of hematological and immunological cells in mice after 6 Gy γ-ray TBI. Our findings suggest the potential of ilomastat to protect against or mitigate the effects of radiation.
Acute Radiation Syndrome ; blood ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Blood Cells ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gamma Rays ; adverse effects ; Hydroxamic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Indoles ; therapeutic use ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; blood ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Spleen ; drug effects ; immunology ; radiation effects ; Survival Analysis ; Whole-Body Irradiation

Radiation encephalopathy is the main complication of cranial radiotherapy. It can cause necrosis of brain tissue and cognitive dysfunction. Our previous work had proved that a natural antioxidant shikonin possessed protective effect on cerebral ischemic injury. Here we investigated the effects of shikonin on carbon ion beam induced radiation brain injury in mice. Pretreatment with shikonin significantly increased the SOD and CAT activities and the ratio of GSH/GSSG in mouse brain tissues compared with irradiated group (P<0.01), while obviously reduced the MDA and PCO contents and the ROS levels derived from of the brain mitochondria. The shikonin also noticeably improved the spatial memory deficits caused by carbon ion beam irradiation. All results demonstrated that shikonin could improve the irradiated brain injury which might resulted from its modulation effects on the oxidative stress induced by the 12C6+ ion beam.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Brain Injuries ; prevention & control ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Heavy Ion Radiotherapy ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Naphthoquinones ; pharmacology ; Protein Carbonylation ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Radiation therapy is an important treatment modality for abdominal or pelvic cancer, but there is a common and serious complication such as radiation-induced enteritis. Probiotics is reported to have positive effects against radiation-induced enteropathy. In this study, morphological changes of bowel mucosa were analyzed in rats to presume the effect of probiotics on radiation-induced enteritis and its correlation with radiation dose. A total of 48 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to two groups and received a solution containing 1.0x108 colony-forming units of Lactiobacillus acidophilus or water once daily for 10 days. Each of two groups was divided into three subgroups and abdomino-pelvic area of each subgroup was irradiated with 10, 15, and 20 Gy, respectively on the seventh day of feeding the solutions. All rats were sacrificed 3 days after irradiation and the mucosal thickness and villus height of jejunum, ileum and colon were measured. The morphological parameters of the small intestine represented significant differences between two solution groups irradiated 10 or 15 Gy, except for villus height of jejunum in 15 Gy-subgroup (P=0.065). There was no significant morphometric difference between two groups irradiated with 20 Gy of radiation. Probiotics appear to be effective for the morphological shortening of small intestinal mucosa damaged by radiation less than or equal to 15 Gy.
Animals ; Colon/pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enteritis/pathology/prevention & control ; Ileum/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/*radiation effects ; Intestine, Small ; Jejunum/pathology ; Lactobacillus acidophilus/*metabolism ; Male ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental/*prevention & control/therapy ; Radiation Protection/*methods ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

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

OBJECTIVE: To explore the anti-radiation protective effect of resveratrol (RES). METHODS: (60)Co-γ irradiated injury model was established. A total of 200 Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (50 in each group): Group I, II, III, and IV. Each group was sub-divided into 5 groups: a normal control (n=10), an irradiated model control group (n=10) and 3 treatment groups of RES (50, 100, and 300 mg/kg RES treatment groups, 10 in each group). RES was orally administered daily for 30 d in the RES treatment groups and 1% sodium carboxymethylcellulose was orally administered in the normal control and irradiated model group. Thereafter, except the normal control group, the mice in other groups were exposed to different dosages of (60)Co-γ once, and the gavage was continued until the end of different experimental periods. Peripheral leucocytes, nucleated bone marrow cells were counted; superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and hemolysin in the serum were determined at different time. RESULTS: Under the different dosages of (60)Co-γ irradiation and the provisions of the experimental conditions, the leucocyte count was (1.69±0.82)× 10(9) and (1.61±0.51)× 10(9)/L in the 100 and 300 mg/kg RES treatment groups, which was significantly increased, when compared with the irradiated model control group [(0.73±0.69)× 10(9)/L] ( P<0.05, P<0.01 respectively). The number of nucleated bone marrow cells was (17.5±4.8) and (17.1±4.7)× 10(5)/mL in the 100 and 300 mg/kg RES treatment groups respectively, which significantly increased when compared with the irradiated model control group [(7.3±2.2)× 10(5)/mL ] ( P<0.01 ). The SOD activity was (110.41±17.04) U/ mL in the 100 mg/kg RES treatment group, which was significantly increased when compared with the irradiated model control group [(95.80±10.42) U/mL ] ( P<0.05 ). There was no significant difference in the serum hemolysin in all RES treatment groups (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION At 100 and 300 mg/kg, RES has good anti-radiation effect.
Animals ; Cobalt Radioisotopes ; Gamma Rays ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Resveratrol ; Stilbenes ; therapeutic use ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of an extract of Guipi Pill () against radiation-induced damage.

METHODSA total of 100 Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive drug group (treated with radioprotective agent "523", 5 mg/kg at 24 h before irradiation) and two treatment groups, with 20 mice in each group. The extract of water extraction-alcohol precipitation (WAP) from Guipi Pill were administered orally to the mice in the two treatment groups at the dose of 500 and 1,000 mg/kg, respectively, for 6 days prior to whole body radiation (8 Gy). Fifty mice with 10 in each group were used to observe the survival rate 30 days after radiation. The other 50 mice with 10 in each group were sacrificed on day 10 after radiation (6 Gy) in order to take blood, liver and unilateral femur.

RESULTSPretreatment prior to irradiation with WAP resulted in a significantly higher 30-day survival rate of mice after exposure to a potentially lethal dose of 8-Gy radiation. WAP could significantly increase the total white blood cell count and DNA content of bone marrow, and it also increased the activity of various antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase in liver tissue of mice, which were reduced by radiation treatment. Maleic dialdehyde level and bone marrow micronucleus rate were significantly reduced by WAP, which were increased after 6-Gy radiation.

CONCLUSIONWAP of Guipi Pill could increase the 30-day survival rate and the antioxidant capacity as well as protect bone marrow in mice. WAP of Guipi Pill is an effective radioprotective agent.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Chemical Precipitation ; DNA ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Leukocyte Count ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Survival Analysis ; Water

OBJECTIVETo investigate antagonistic effect of microwave on hematopoietic damage of mice induced by gamma-ray irradiation.

METHODSMale healthy Kunning mice were treated with low dose microwave radiation before exposure to (60)Co gamma-ray irradiation of 8.0 Gy. The 30-day survival rate and average survival time of the mice after the treatment were examined. Peripheral blood parameters and the organ indexes of thymus and spleen were also observed in the irradiated mice. After exposure to 5.0 Gy gamma irradiation, indexes of hematopoietic foci formation of bone marrow cells (CFU-GM) and the proliferation activity of BMNCs were examined. The serum concentration of hemopoietic factors (GM-CSF and IL-3) were detected by ELISA kits.

RESULTSPre-exposure with 120 microW/cm(2) 900 MHz microwave increased the 30-day survival rate (P < 0.05) and the number of white blood cells of gamma-ray treated mice. The increases of the organ indexes of thymus and spleen, proliferation activity of BMNCs and CFU-GM hematopoietic foci numbers, as well as the higher serum concentration of GM-CSF and IL-3 were observed in the microwave pre-exposure group.

CONCLUSIONLow dose microwave radiation may exert potential antagonistic effects on hematopoietic injuries induced by ionizing radiation. The underlying mechanisms might be related with stimulation of hematopoietic growth factors expression, promotion of HSCs/HPCs proliferation, suppression on the reduction of HSCs/HPCs caused by (60)Co gamma-ray, and enhanced construction of the hematopoietic system.

Animals ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Cell Differentiation ; radiation effects ; Cell Proliferation ; radiation effects ; Gamma Rays ; adverse effects ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; blood ; Interleukin-3 ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Microwaves ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; blood ; pathology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of radiation emitted by mobile phones on bone strength and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the changes induced by radiation.

METHODSForty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. Rats in the control group (first group) were left within the experimental setup for 30 min/day for 28 days without radiation exposure. Nine hundred MHz radiation group was broke down into 2 subgroups (group 1/2). Both subgroups were exposed to radiation for 28 days (30 min/day). The next group was also divided into 2 subgroups (group 3/4). Each was exposed to 1800 MHz of radiation for 28 days (30 min/day). The third and fifth groups were also treated with CAPE for 28 days. Treatment groups received ip caffeic acid phenethyl ester (10 micromol/kg per day) before radiation session. Bone fracture was analyzed.

RESULTSBreaking force, bending strength, and total fracture energy decreased in the irradiated groups but increased in the treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONRadiation and CAPE can significantly improve bone.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Density ; Caffeic Acids ; administration & dosage ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Femur ; pathology ; Fractures, Bone ; prevention & control ; Male ; Phenylethyl Alcohol ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To observe histopathologic changes of irradiated guinea pigs' nasal mucosa treated with intranasal corticosteroids and to study the radioprotective effect of intranasal corticosteroids. METHOD: Fifty health guinea pigs nasal parts were performed irradiation by the WDVE-6MeV linear accelerator. They had accepted 5 Gy one time per week for three weeks through X-ray irradiating to establish the animal irradiation injury model. After that, they were divided into 2 groups randomly: the control group and the administration group and each group had 25 guinea pigs. The administration group received intranasal corticosteroids on the second day after three weeks irradiation, 5 animals per one group were sacrificed randomly at 1 W, 1 M, 2 M, 3 M, 4 M after administration, the histopathologic changes were observed under optical, scanning electron and transmission electron microscope respectively. RESULT: Using intranasal corticosteroids after irradiation, the early inflammatory reaction of the administration group was milder than the control group. With the drug being given constantly, the recovery of epithelial cell with irradiated damage was accelerated and the coverage rate of cilia went up obviously; After four months, the coverage rate of cilia had risen to 72.9%; But, for the control group, the coverage rate of cilia is only 50.2%. The atrophy of submucosal glandular organ was lessened and they displayed some extent secretory function. The reparation was accelerated as time went by. CONCLUSION Irradiation brought about serious injury on guinea pigs' nasal mucosa. But, the injury was lessen after using intranasal corticosteroids. Intranasal corticosteroids play the role of radioprotection for the irradiated nasal mucosa.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Nasal Mucosa ; drug effects ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; prevention & control

The radioprotective activity of extracts from the red seaweed Callophyllis (C.) japonica was investigated in mice that underwent whole-body exposure to gamma radiation. A methanol extract of C. japonica and its fractions [hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), butanol and the remaining H(2)O] were used. Each fraction (100 mg/kg body weight) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 2 times into the BALB/c mice, once at 1 and once at 24 h before exposure to 9 Gray (Gy) of gamma radiation. Pre-irradiation administration of the hexane and EtOAc fractions saved the mice, with their survival rates being greater than 80% at 30 days post-irradiation; the mice that were pretreated with the other fractions showed survival rates lower than 20% over the same time period. To examine the effect of each C. japonica fraction on the survival of intestinal and bone marrow stem cells, the number of intestinal crypts and bone marrow cells in the gamma-irradiated mice were examined. Pre-treatment of mice (i.p., 100 mg/kg body weight at 1 and 24 h before irradiation) with the hexane or EtOAc fraction prior to 6-Gy irradiation significantly protected the number of jejunal crypts and bone marrow cells at 9 days after irradiation. These findings suggest that certain extracts from C. japonica, when they are administered prior to irradiation, play an important role in the survival of irradiated mice, and this is possibly due to the extracts protecting the hematopoietic cells and intestinal stem cells against gamma irradiation.
Acetates ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells/drug effects/*radiation effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Female ; Gamma Rays ; Hexanes ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/drug effects/radiation effects ; Jejunum/cytology/drug effects/radiation effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental/prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents/*pharmacology ; *Seaweed ; Whole-Body Irradiation/*veterinary