A comparative study on gamma irradiation of unconjugated bilirubin in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions

Abstract

Dilute aqueous and non-aqueous solutions of bilirubin were exposed to gamma radiation to examine the effects of ionizing radiation on the concentrations of a specimen of this nature. The ionising radiation emanated from a (137)Cs source, and was applied to 5.2 x 10(-2) mmol L(-1) solutions of the unconjugated specimen in 0.05 mol L(-1) aqueous NaOH and chloroform. Depletion of bilirubin after exposure was common to both solvents. Complete degradation was accomplished with doses in excess of 100 Gy. In the case of NaOH, it was found that the presence of molecular oxygen contributed more efficiently to the degradation process, than irradiation in air. When the experimental conditions were changed to nitrogen, the degradation process was suppressed. The sole by-product of merit originating from the NaOH work was the short-wavelength isomer of biliverdin, at 330 nm. In the case of chloroform, the exclusive product of interest was characterised as the long-wavelength isomer of biliverdin that absorbs in the broad region commencing from about 620 nm. The non-aqueous study was conducted in the presence and absence of molecular oxygen, with no significant changes in the results. Optimum production of the isomers in question occurred at a gamma dose of about 80 Gy. The general species of interest were monitored spectrophotometrically, and the results were treated mathematically to facilitate evaluation of the data. Our work represents the development of a facile gamma-ray method for the exclusive production of specific isomers of biliverdin, which are useful components in biosynthetic research.

Optimization of phenylhydrazine induced hyperbilirubinemia in experimental rabbit

“…It is, therefore, desirable to find rapid and more efficient methods for management of hyperbilirubinemia. An ever first study demonstrating degradation of bilirubin to biliverdin (an excretable product) in vitro by gamma irradiation was reported from our laboratory [12] followed by others [27, 28], which verified these results. This in vitro work could not be extended to in vivo experiments due to non-availability of suitable animal models.…”

Critical Evaluation of Gamma-Irradiated Serum Used as Feeder in the Culture and Demonstration of Putative Nanobacteria and Calcifying Nanoparticles

“…The yellow color of serum is usually attributed to the presence of bilirubin, a heme degradation product [61], [62]. The gradual discoloration of serum can thus be interpreted as a dose-dependent breakdown of bilirubin by γ-rays, which had indeed been documented by other groups [62], [63]. The damaging effects on biological molecules produced by γ-irradiation can also be illustrated by the irradiation-induced decrease of the heme-related absorbance peak at 415 nm seen in Figures 2A and B, suggesting that γ-irradiation may have caused a γ-dose-dependent destruction of the heme group found in hemoglobin.…”