The Complex of Tests for the Quantitative Evaluation of the Effects of Radiation on Laboratory Animals

Abstract

Exposure to ionizing radiation leads to exhaustion of the pool of stem cells, increases differentiated cell stress, and activated reparation and apoptosis processes. Apart from well-documented acute effects, radiotherapy leads to delayed effects manifesting in few years after successful treatment. The aim of our study was the development of a test battery for evaluation of irradiation aftereffects in organisms characterized by different radiosensitivity. We chose C57BL mice as the ideal strain, because according to published data, they are characterized by medium radiosensitivity. At the preliminary stage, we have to assess informative value of some methods for the sublethal irradiation dose of 750 R. For evaluation of the damaging effects of radiation (lymphocyte count and maturity), we used, along with classical criteria, some complex parameters (body weight, serum homeostasis, behavior) characterizing general status of the organism. We also performed histological analysis of the liver, spleen, and pancreas and ranged the injuries by their severity.

Radioprotective Effect of Human Lactoferrin Against Gamma-Irradiation With Sublethal Dose

“…Areas of fatty hepatosis and fibrosis were also observed in animals of this group. Previously similar data were obtained [10]. Lf administration to irradiated animals (IR+Lf and IR+Lfx2) diminished reactive changes and visually reduced fibrosis zones (Figure 3).…”

“…The liver was isolated to assess morphological changes caused by the damaging effects of radiation. The detailed method was the same as described previously [10], 4% neutral formalin solution was used as a fixative. Tissue sections (5 μm) were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) using the standard staining procedure and were examined using a light microscope.…”

New Properties of a Well-Known Antioxidant: Pleiotropic Effects of Human Lactoferrin in Mice Exposed to Gamma Irradiation in a Sublethal Dose

“…Histological analysis of the spleen and liver was performed on days 3, 10, and 30 after irradiation. It is known that acute exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation causes significant morphological changes in these organs [ 43 , 44 ].…”

Metabolic and Morphological Changes in Rats’ Eye after 7-Days Microgravity Simulation

“…Zone 2 (4.64-6.25 nm) contains globulins; their reduced content in rats of the experimental group can attest to vulnerability of the immune system caused by microgravity exposure [10 -12]. The peak at 91 nm, as was demonstrated in experiments on lymphocytes [13], is determined by the release of nucleoproteins into the extracellular medium. In our experiments, the contribution of this zone into light scatter in the experimental group was higher than in the control.…”