Implication of prostaglandins and histamine h1 and h2 receptors in radiation-induced temperature responses of rats

Technical Report · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6275921

Kandasamy, S B; Hunt, W A; Mickley, G A

Exposure of rats to 1-15 Gy cobalt 60 gamma radiation induced hyperthermia, whereas 20-200 Gy induced hypothermia. Exposure either to the head or to the whole body to 10 Gy induced hyperthermia, while body-only exposure produced hypothermia. This observation indicates that radiation-induced fever is a result of a direct effect on the brain. The hyperthermia due to 10 Gy was significantly attenuated by the pre- or post-treatment with a cyclooxgenase inhibitor, indomethacin. Hyperthermia was also altered by the central administration of a mu receptor antagonist naloxone but only at low doses of radiation. These findings suggest that radiation-induced hyperthermia may be mediated through the synthesis and release of prostaglandins in the brain and to a lesser extent to the release of endogenous opioid peptides. The release of histamine acting on H(1) and H(2) receptors may be involved in radiation-induced hypothermia since both the H(1) receptor antagonist, mepyramine, and H(2) receptor antagonist, cimetidine, antagonized the hypothermia. The results of these studies suggested that the release of neurohumoral substances induced by exposure to ionizing radiation is dose dependent and has different consequences on physiological processes such as the regulation of body temperature. Furthermore, the antagonism of radiation-induced hyperthermia by indomethacin may have potential therapeutic implications in the treatment of fever resulting from accidental irradiations.

• Research Organization: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Inst., Bethesda, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6275921
• Report Number(s): AD-A-203280/3/XAB; AFRRI-SR-88-4
• 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.
ACCIDENTS
AMINES
ANALGESICS
ANIMALS
AZOLES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BODY
BODY TEMPERATURE
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
CONTROL
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DRUGS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HISTAMINE
HYPERTHERMIA
HYPOTHERMIA
IMIDAZOLES
IRRADIATION
MAMMALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHYSIOLOGY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RATS
RODENTS
SYNTHESIS
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
VERTEBRATES