Effects of ionizing radiation on the pulmonary vasculature of intact rats and isolated pulmonary endothelium

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3576985· OSTI ID:5899345

Kwock, L; Davenport, W C; Clark, R L; Zarembra, J; Lingle, B; Chaney, E L; Friedman, M

We studied the effects of ionizing radiation on the morphology of the pulmonary circulation using an in vivo rat model and an in vitro pulmonary artery endothelial cell model. Gamma radiation was given as either an acute (30 Gy) or fractionated (5 X 6 Gy) dose to one hemithorax of rats. An acute 30-Gy dose delivered resulted in a 70% decrease in pulmonary arterial perfusion, using technetium-99m microaggregated albumin (99mTc-MAA), in the irradiated lung by 2-3 weeks after irradiation. Pulmonary microradiographs, using a barium sulfate perfusion method, obtained 2-3 weeks after irradiation demonstrated widespread loss of capillary filling and segmentation of the vessels. Histologic examination demonstrated intact capillaries, suggesting that the alterations in pulmonary perfusion were at the precapillary level. Similar abnormalities in lung perfusion and morphology were found after delivery of fractionated doses of radiation, but the onset of the changes was delayed, occurring 4-6 weeks postirradiation. Using cultured pulmonary endothelial cell monolayers, cell sloughing and retraction from the surface substrate were observed within 24 h after in vitro delivery of 30 Gy. Similar findings occurred in monolayers given fractionated doses (5 X 6 Gy) of radiation 2-3 days after the final dose. The in vivo animal and in vitro endothelial cell models offer a useful means of examining the morphologic alterations involved in radiation lung vascular damage.

• Research Organization: Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• OSTI ID: 5899345
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 111:2; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560120 -- Radiation Effects on Biochemicals
Cells
& Tissue Culture
560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ACUTE IRRADIATION
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
ENDOTHELIUM
FRACTIONATED IRRADIATION
IN VITRO
IN VIVO
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
ORGANS
PERFUSED ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES