Teratologieal effects of gamma-irradiation during three gestaional intervals in rats

The present study aimed to evaluate the teratological effects of gamma-irradiation during three intervals of gestation; pre-implantation, organogenesis and fetal periods in rats. Four groups of pregnant rats were used in this study; the first one [GI] served as control. The second [GII], third [GIII] and fourth [GIV] groups were subjected to whole body gamma-radiation at a sub-lethal single dose level of 4 Gy at the third day, 10[th] day and 14[th] day of gestation respectively. Pregnant rats were sacrificed at the 20[th] day of gestation, implantation sites, resorption, embryonic death, fetal death, growth retarded fetuses, external malformations and skeletal malformiation were recorded. The results showed that whole body gamma-irradiation caused resorption in the embryos of pregnant rats especially in those exposed during the pre-implantation period than the two other periods. The embryonic and fetal deaths were prominent in the fetuses maternally exposed to whole body gamma-irradiation during the organogenesis period. The highest percentage of growth retarded fetuses was found in fetuses maternally exposed to gamma-rays during the organogenesis period followed by fetuses maternally exposed to gamma-irradiation during the fetal period and then fetuses maternally exposed to gamma-irradiation during the pre-implantation period. The skeletal malformations as a result of gamma-irradiation were mostly represented in less ossification in the skull bones, less ossification in the vertebral centra and wavy ribs. The most affected fetal skeleton was perceptive in GIII [fetuses maternally exposed to gamma-irradiation during the organogenesis period] followed by GIl and then GIV

Histochemical studies on the role of pantothenic acid on radiation damage of the kidney

The present study was designed to evaluate effect of pantothenic acid to gamma irradiated rats. Female albino rats [120-150gm] were subjected to [5 Gy] whole body [137]Cs gamma irradiation. Fresh kidney specimens were obtained after 1 and 4 weeks of treatment. Frozen sections were prepared for histochemical study for localization of both acid, alkaline phosphatases and succinic dehydrogenase enzymes. The enzymatic activity was quantitatively evaluated and statistically analyzed. The obtained results showed significant decrease in both alkaline phosphatase and succinic dehydrogenase enzymes activity while the acid phosphatase enzyme activity was significantly increased in comparison to the control group after one week, while after four weeks the activity of both acid and alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased, while the enzymatic activity of succinic dehydrogenase decrease. Pantothenic acid treatment [22 mg/kg body weight / day for 6 days] after half hour of radiation showed marked improvement of the radiation induced changes in the activity of measured enzymes. Finally it could be concluded that pantothenic acid could be of value in improving the radiation injury on the kidney