Protective effect of magnesium sulfate against radiation-induced heart damaged in albino rat

ABSTRACT

ability of Magnesium sulfate to reduce the severity of the late stage of radiation - induced heart disease [RIHD] was assessed in 40 white albino rats. Ten rats served as a control not exposed to radiation [cont.], another 10 rats were given only MgSo4 for 10 days as a negative control [-ve cont.]. The remaining rats were divided into two groups, group [A] ten animals exposed to a single dose of radiation [20 Gy]. Group [B] ten rats received MgSO4 [50 mg / kg intraperitoneally injected], 4 days prior to radiation, at the day of radiation and on the following 5 consecutive days. At 100 days post - radiation, the severity of the late state was determined by microscopic examination for myocardial fibrosis and by studying the ultrastructural changes. Irradiation found to have aggravated structured effect on the heart in the form of lysis and indistinct striation of muscle fibers, irregular pyknotic nuclei, depletion of glycogen granules and abnormal shaped mitochondiria. The adjacent cardiac muscle fibers were widely separated with marked congestion of the blood capillaries and interstitial cellular infiltration. Magnesium sulfate appeared to have protective effect in the form of reduction of myocardial of collagen content [fibrosis]. Suppression of the inflammation with preservation of the normal characters of most of the muscle fibers