Potential inhibitory effects of low-dose thoron inhalation and ascorbic acid administration on alcohol-induced hepatopathy in mice

Abstract

Although thoron inhalation exerts antioxidative effects in several organs, there are no reports on whether it inhibits oxidative stress-induced damage. In this study, we examined the combined effects of thoron inhalation and ascorbic acid (AA) administration on alcohol-induced liver damage. Mice were subjected to thoron inhalation at 500 or 2000 Bq/m3 and were administered 50% ethanol (alcohol) and 300 mg/kg AA. Results showed that although alcohol administration increased the levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in the serum, the combination of thoron inhalation (500 Bq/m3) and AA administration 24 h after alcohol administration effectively inhibited alcohol-induced liver damage. The combination of thoron inhalation (500 Bq/m3) and AA administration 24 h after alcohol administration increased catalase (CAT) activity. Alcohol administration significantly decreased glutathione (GSH) levels in the liver. The GSH content in the liver after 2000 Bq/m3 thoron inhalation was lower than that after 500 Bq/m3 thoron inhalation. These findings suggest that the combination of thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m3 and AA administration has positive effects on the recovery from alcohol-induced liver damage. The results also suggested that thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m3 was more effective than that at 2000 Bq/m3, possibly because of the decrease in GSH content in the liver. In conclusion, the combination of thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m3 and AA administration promoted an early recovery from alcohol-induced liver damage.

Effects of low-dose/high-dose-rate X-irradiation on oxidative stress in organs following forced swim test and its combined effects on alcohol-induced liver damage in mice

“…An important relationship exists between t-GSH content and alcohol metabolism; t-GSH content decreases because of the increased oxidative stress associated with its metabolism [ 34–37 ]. In our previous study, radon or thoron inhalation decreased t-GSH content in the liver 6 h after alcohol administration; however, t-GSH content increased 24 h after administration [ 38 , 39 ]. Based on these findings, the content of t-GSH with a thiol (–SH) group, which exhibits a highly sensitive antioxidant effect, decreased 6 h after alcohol administration following FST because of its decomposition, which manifests acute liver function impairment.…”

Immunomodulatory Effects of Radon Inhalation on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in Mice

“…LPS administration induces damage in the brain [ 24 , 25 ], lungs [ 26 ], heart [ 15 ], liver [ 27 ], pancreas [ 28 ], kidneys [ 29 , 30 ], and intestines [ 31 ]. Thus, oxidative stress and inflammation may play important roles in the development of LPS-induced damage.…”

“…In addition, the duration after LPS administration may be an important factor for evaluating oxidative stress in the organs. Our latest study suggests that although thoron inhalation, a radioisotope of radon, did not inhibit alcohol-induced liver damage at an early stage, it promoted early recovery from the damage [ 31 ]. For this reason, in the present study, we did not examine the time course effects of radon.…”