Structural and functional alterations in the rat lung following whole thoracic irradiation with moderate doses: injury and recovery. Int J Radiat Biol 2008 Jun;84(6):487-97
Date
05/13/2008Pubmed ID
18470747Pubmed Central ID
PMC2435093DOI
10.1080/09553000802078396Scopus ID
2-s2.0-45849110724 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 45 CitationsAbstract
PURPOSE: To characterize structural and functional injuries following a single dose of whole-thorax irradiation that might be survivable after a nuclear attack/accident.
METHODS: Rats were exposed to 5 or 10 Gy of X-rays to the whole thorax with other organs shielded. Non-invasive measurements of breathing rate and arterial oxygen saturation, and invasive evaluations of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, (for total protein, Clara cell secretory protein), vascular reactivity and histology were conducted for at least 6 time points up to 52 weeks after irradiation.
RESULTS: Irradiation with 10 Gy resulted in increased breathing rate, a reduction in oxygen saturation, an increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein and attenuation of vascular reactivity between 4-12 weeks after irradiation. These changes were not observed with the lower dose of 5 Gy. Histological examination revealed perivascular edema at 4-8 weeks after exposure to both doses, and mild fibrosis beyond 20 weeks after 10 Gy.
CONCLUSIONS: Single-dose exposure of rat thorax to 10 but not 5 Gy X-irradiation resulted in a decrease in oxygen uptake and vasoreactivity and an increase in respiratory rate, which paralleled early pulmonary vascular pathology. Vascular edema resolved and was replaced by mild fibrosis beyond 20 weeks after exposure, while lung function recovered.
Author List
Zhang R, Ghosh SN, Zhu D, North PE, Fish BL, Morrow NV, Lowry T, Nanchal R, Jacobs ER, Moulder JE, Medhora MAuthors
Natalya V. Morrow PhD Assistant Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of WisconsinRahul Sudhir Nanchal MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Paula E. North MD, PhD Professor in the Pathology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsDose-Response Relationship, Radiation
Female
Lung
Pulmonary Artery
Pulmonary Circulation
Pulmonary Edema
Radiation Injuries, Experimental
Rats
Respiration
Thorax
Uteroglobin
