Faculty Collaboration Database

Effect of in vivo heart irradiation on the development of antioxidant defenses and cardiac functions in the rat. Radiat Res 1995 Oct;144(1):64-72

Date

10/01/1995

Pubmed ID

7568773

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0029120215 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   18 Citations

Abstract

During radiotherapy of thoracic tumors, the heart is often included in the primary treatment volume, and chronic impairment of myocardial function occurs. The cellular biomolecules are altered directly by radiation or damaged indirectly by free radical production. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the biochemical and functional responses of the rat heart to a single high dose of radiation. The effect of 20 Gy local X irradiation was determined in the heart of Wistar rats under general anesthesia. Mechanical performances were measured in vitro using an isolated perfused working heart model, and cardiac antioxidant defenses were also evaluated. Hearts were studied at 1 and 4 months after irradiation. This single dose of radiation induced a marked drop in the mechanical activity of the rat heart: aortic output was significantly reduced (18% less than control values) at 1 month postirradiation and remained depressed for the rest of the experimental period (21% less than control 4 months after treatment). This suggests the development of myocardial failure after irradiation. The decline of functional parameters was associated with changes in antioxidant defenses. The decrease in cardiac levels of vitamin E (-30%) was associated with an increase in the levels of Mn-SOD and glutathione peroxidase (+45.5% and +32%, respectively, at 4 months postirradiation). However, cardiac vitamin C and catalase levels remained constant. Since these antioxidant defenses were activated relatively long after irradiation, it is suggested that this was probably due to the production of free radical species associated with the development of inflammation.

Author List

Benderitter M, Maingon P, Abadie C, Assem M, Maupoil V, Briot F, Horiot JC, Rochette L

Author

Mahfoud Assem PharmD Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aging
Animals
Antioxidants
Catalase
Free Radicals
Heart
Lipid Peroxidation
Male
Organ Size
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Superoxide Dismutase