Pulmonary endothelial dysfunction induced by unilateral as compared to bilateral thoracic irradiation in rats

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3577025· OSTI ID:6069525

Ward, W F; Molteni, A; Ts'Ao, C H; Solliday, N H

Rats were sacrificed 2 months after a single dose of 10-30 Gy of /sup 60/Co gamma rays delivered to either a right unilateral or a bilateral thoracic port. Four indices of lung endothelial function were measured: the activities of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and plasminogen activator (PLA) and the production of prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane (TXA2). The number of macrophages recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and the degree of right ventricular hypertrophy (an index of pulmonary hypertension) also were determined. Right lung ACE and PLA activity decreased linearly, and PGI2 and TXA2 production increased linearly with increasing radiation dose. The response curves for right unilateral and bilateral thoracic irradiation were not significantly different. In contrast, bilateral irradiation was more toxic than unilateral, since rats exposed to the former exhibited decreased body weight, an increased incidence of pleural effusions, an increase in the number of macrophages recovered by BAL, and right ventricular hypertrophy. These data demonstrate that pulmonary endothelial dysfunction induced by hemithorax irradiation represents a direct response of the endothelium to radiation injury and is not secondary to other phenomena such as shunting of function to the shielded lung.

• Research Organization: Northwestern Univ. Medical School, Chicago, IL
• OSTI ID: 6069525
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 111:1; 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 CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ENDOTHELIUM
ENZYME ACTIVITY
FUNCTIONS
HYPERTROPHY
INJURIES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LUNGS
MACROPHAGES
MAMMALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHAGOCYTES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES