Epinephrine ameliorating response of serum proteins and protein fractions to whole body gamma irradiation in albino rats

The present study was carried out to investigate the role of epinephrine in modifying the radiation induced effects on serum protein as presented by total protein, protein fractions and albumin/globulin [A/G] ratio in adult albino rats. Epinephrine was intraperitoneally injected at a concentration of 200 microg/kg body weight, 15 min, pre-[or just after] whole body gamma-irradiation of rats at a dose of 6 Gy [single dose]. Studies have been undertaken at periods of 1 hr, 4 hrs, 1, 3 and 7 days after irradiation. Data of the present study revealed that whole body gamma-irradiation induced significant decreased in the total content of serum protein and albumin at 1, 3 and 7 days post radiation exposure alpha[1] -globulin significantly increased only on the 1[st] hr post-irradiation, however alpha[2]-globulin significantly increased along all the experimental periods. Beta-globulin insignificantly changed after irradiation but gamma-globulin significantly decreased during the experimental periods. These changes were associated with significant decreases in A/G ratio at 3 and 7 days post-irradiation. Administration of epinephrine pre-or after radiation exposure produced some amelioration in the radiation induced changes in the studied parameters. So, it could be concluded that epinephrine plays a beneficial radioprotective role through its pharmacologic properties

Epinephrine as a metabolic regulatory hormone in irradiated rats

The role of epinephrine as a regulatory hormone was examined in normal and irradiated rats. Epinephrine was intraperitoneally injected into rats at a concentration of 200 microg/kg body weight. Epinephrine was injected either 15 minutes before or just after whole body gamma irradiation 6 Gy [single dose]. The variations in serum epinephrine, norepinephrine, triglycerides, lipase activity, glucose and lactic acid were selected as biochemical markers in this study. Biochemical estimations were undertaken at 1 hr, 4 hrs, 1, 3 and 7 days after treatment [after irradiation]. The data obtained revealed that the treatment of normal rats with epinephrine induced a significant increase in serum epinephrine level 1 hr after injection, while the level of norepinephrine significantly increased at 4 hrs. Lipase activity significantly increased on the 1[st] hr post treatment. A significant decrease in the level of triglycerides was recorded 1 and 4 hrs post treatment. Serum glucose significantly increased at 1 and 4 hrs post treatment, while no significant changes were recorded for lactic acid. In gamma irradiated rats, the level of serum epinephrine significantly decreased at 1 hr followed by significant increases recorded at 1, 3, and 7 days after irradiation. Norepinephrine levels significantly decreased after irradiation during all the experimental time periods. The levels of triglycerides show significant increases accompanied by a decrease in lipase activity. A temporary decrease of glucose level was recorded at 1 hr followed by significant increase recorded at 1, 3, and 7 days post irradiation. Lactic acid levels show significant increase during all the experimental time periods. The data revealed that treatment of rats, with epinephrine, either pre or post irradiation, has diminished the radiation induced changes in most of the studied parameters. Accordingly, it could be concluded that epinephrine could exert a beneficial protective role against certain radiation induced disorders through acting as a regulatory hormone of the metabolic pathways

Imidazole protects the cardiovascular and respiratory systems against whole body gamma-irradiation "an experimental study"

The radioprotective effect of imidazole on the blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates was investigated in adult male rats. Whole body gamma-irradiation at a dose level of 6 Gy. exerted a significant hypotension and tachycardia after one and seven days post gamma-irradiation. There was a significant decrease in respiratory rate after one day of irradiation, but, a significant increase after 7 days, post-irradiation. Administration of imidazole [350 mg/kg] did not significantly affect the blood pressure, but significantly increased heart and respiratory rates after one and seven days of imidazole administration. Imidazole [350 mg/kg] 5-15 minutes before whole body, gamma-irradiation at a dose level of 6 Gy. significantly antagonised the effect of gamma-irradiation on blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates. Meanwhile imidazole completely abolished the effect of gamma-irradiation on the respiratory rate, but it did not completely abolish the effect on the blood pressure and heart rate. The results of the present investigation indicate that imidazole [350 mg/kg] is a good protector against gamma-irradiation induced changes on blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates

Radioiron tracer technique for study of shortened red cell life span in bilharzial heptosplenomegaly and its restoration through splenectomy

In this work, the red cell life span is measured using radioiron Fe[59] in bilharzial hepatosplenomegalic cases before and 45 days after splenectomy as well as in normal controls. Red cell count and bone marrow examinations are also carried out in the bilharzial cases. The results reveal that bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly is associated with anaemia, shortened red cell life span and normal normoblastic series. 45 days after splenectomy, anaemia becomes corrected, and the red cell life span is lengthened and the normoblastic series of the bone marrow becomes more active. It has been thus concluded that splenectomy is of definite value in improving anaemia which accompanies bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly as it eliminates red cell overdestruction and releases the bone marrow from the humoral suppression of the enlarged spleen