Radiation-induced pulmonary endothelial dysfunction and hydroxyproline accumulation in four strains of mice

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Radiation Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3577638· OSTI ID:5224245

Ward, W F; Sharplin, J; Franko, A J; Hinz, J M ^[1]

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1. Northwestern Univ. Medical School, Chicago, IL (USA)

C57BL mice exposed to 14 Gy of whole-thorax irradiation develop significant histologic lung fibrosis within 52 weeks, whereas CBA and C3H mice do not exhibit substantial fibrosis during this time. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether this strain-dependent difference in radiation histopathology is associated with genetic differences in pulmonary endothelial metabolic activity or in endothelial radioresponsiveness. C57BL/6J, C57BL/10J, CBA/J, and C3H/HeJ mice were sacrificed 12 weeks after exposure to 0 or 14 Gy of 300-kV X rays to the whole thorax. Lung angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity and plasminogen activator (PLA) activity were measured as indices of pulmonary endothelial function; and lung hydroxyproline (HP) content served as an index of pulmonary fibrosis. Lung ACE and PLA activities in sham-irradiated C57BL/6J and CB57BL/10J mice were only half as high as those in sham-irradiated CBA/J and C3H/HeJ mice. Exposure to 14 Gy of X rays produced a slight but nonsignificant reduction in lung ACE and PLA activity in the C57BL strains, and a significant reduction in the CBA/J and C3H/HeJ mice. Even after 14 Gy, however, lung ACE and PLA activities in CBA/J and C3H/HeJ mice were higher than those in sham-irradiated C57BL/6J and C57BL/10J mice. Lung HP content in all four strains increased significantly after irradiation, but this increase was accompanied by an increase in lung wet weight. As a result, HP concentration (per milligram wet weight) remained constant or increased slightly in both C57BL strains and actually decreased in the CBA/J and C3H/HeJ mice. These data demonstrate significant genetic differences in both intrinsic pulmonary endothelial enzyme activity and endothelial radioresponsiveness among the four strains of mice.

• OSTI ID: 5224245
• Journal Information: Radiation Research; (USA), Journal Name: Radiation Research; (USA) Vol. 120:1; ISSN 0033-7587; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
BODY
DISEASES
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENDOTHELIUM
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
FIBRINOLYTIC AGENTS
FIBROSIS
GENETIC VARIABILITY
HEMATOLOGIC AGENTS
HYDROLASES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MICE
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
PLASMINOGEN
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
RODENTS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION