Experimental study on TCM symptomatological and developmental characteristics of rats with radiation-induced lung injury / 中华中医药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objectives:To explore the possibility of using experimental animal models as a new means for studying the pathogenesis and symptomatologic development of radiation-induced lung injury,and provide theoretical and experimental evidences for early prevention and treatment with the traditional Chinese medicine.Methods:80 female Wistar rats were divided randomly into the model group and control group with 40 rats in each group respectively.The rats in model group were anesthetized and fixed,and a 2cm?3cm area of the right lungs received 6mV X-ray radiation at 3Gy?2/w and a maximal 10/5w.Eight rats randomly selected from each group were sacrificed at the end of weeks of 3,5,8,12 and 26.Diagnostic techniques of TCM were employed to analyze symptomatological and developmental characteristics of TCM in radiation-induced lung injury during exposure by dynamic examination and comparison of living rats,gross lung samples and tissue sections.Results: Signs and symptoms including redness around nose and eyes,yellowish secretion,tachypnea,dry stool,lethargy,sluggishness, inactiveness were observed in model group in early stage of radiation exposure,which consistent with dominant heat in the interior and primordial qi exhaustion syndrome.Swollen lungs,bright redness on surface and red bleeding patches were observed in early stage of radiation;microscopic examination showed interstitial tissues,and readily visible congestion,hemorrhage and edema of pulmonary interstitial tissues,consistent with damaged blood collaterals by heat and blood escaping circulation syndrome.In the later stage of radiation exposure,the lungs showed dark appearance,apparent purple petechia,hard texture and poor elasticity.Microscopic examination showed remote hemorrhage foci,pulmonary capillary stasis or closure,and focal fibrotic clumps,consistent with obstruction of collaterals by blood stasis syndrome.No abnormal changes were observed in the control group.Conclusions:Animal experiments can redeem the clinical inadequacy of traditional inspection,auscultation and olfaction,interrogation and feeling pulse and palpation diagnostic techniques,modern pathological methods can be utilized to study symptomatology of traditional Chinese medicine.Symptomatological and developmental characteristics of'heat toxin impairment in radiation-induced lung injury characterized by heat damaging pulmonary collateral syndrome in early stage and pulmonary collateral stagnation syndrome in the advanced stage'can be revealed at living organism,gross lung sample and microscopic pulmonary tissue levels,thus providing theoretical basis for early prevention and treatment of radiation-induced lung injury using'cooling blood to remove apthogenic heat'.