ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to test the efficacy of Broncho-Vaxom (OM-85 BV) in rats after exposure to radiation-induced oxidative stress. Daily administration of Broncho-Vaxom (2.5 mg/kg/day) to rats for a period of 28 days produced a progressive significant increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in lungs and erythrocytes. No changes were recorded in reduced glutathione (GSH) content in lungs, while an increase was recorded in erythrocytes. Significant increase was also observed in serum gamma-globulin content. Intraperitoneal administration of Broncho-Vaxom to rats for 11 days before gamma-irradiation and daily during the period of irradiation, delivered as 1 Gy every other day to reach 9 Gy, significantly reduced radiation-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) measured as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the lungs and erythrocytes. Treatment with Broncho-Vaxom modified the radiation-induced decrease of serum gamma-globulins contents. It is postulated that Broncho-Vaxom, by enhancing the antioxidant system and increasing serum gamma-globulin content, could play an important role in modifying radiation-induced oxidative stress.
Subject(s)
Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Bacteria , Cell Extracts , Gamma Rays , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/radiation effects , Animals , Catalase/blood , Catalase/metabolism , Glutathione/blood , Glutathione/metabolism , Lung/drug effects , Lung/enzymology , Lung/metabolism , Male , Rats , Superoxide Dismutase/blood , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolism , gamma-Globulins/metabolismABSTRACT
The aim of the present work was to evaluate the modulatory role of beta-carotene on the radiation-induced changes in certain biochemical and cytogenetic parameters. beta-Carotene was given by gavage at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight for 7 consecutive days before whole body gamma irradiation with 7 Gy (single dose). The levels of beta-carotene in plasma, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in plasma and liver, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in blood and liver were the selected parameters. Furthermore, the frequency of micronuclei (MN) of polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs), normochromatic erythrocytes (NCEs), the ratio of PCEs/NCEs and the mitotic index (MI) of bone marrow cells were also evaluated. The biochemical and cytogenetic determinations were carried out 1, 24, and 72 h after radiation exposure. The results obtained revealed that administration of beta-carotene pre-irradiation significantly inhibited the decrease in plasma beta-carotene, significantly reduced the levels of TBARS in plasma and liver. Significant protection of the radiation-induced changes in the activities of SOD and catalase was also recorded in the blood and liver of beta-carotene-treated and -irradiated rats. beta-Carotene resulted in significant inhibition in the frequency of radiation-induced MN, as well as in the ratio of PCEs/NCEs and the MI of bone marrow cells. These results suggest that beta-carotene as a natural product with its antioxidant capacity and capability of quenching singlet oxygen, could play a modulatory role against the cellular damage affected by free radicals induced by whole body irradiation.
