Radiation esophagitis in the opossum: radioprotection with indomethacin. [/sup 60/Co]

Journal Article · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · Gastroenterology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6394872

Northway, M G; Libshitz, H I; Osborne, B M; Feldman, M S; Mamel, J J; West, J H; Szwarc, I A

Twenty-five opossums were evaluated before irradiation by fiberoptic endoscopy and air-contrast barium esophagram examination. All animals received 2250 rad /sup 60/Co-irradiated in a single exposure to the entire esophagus and lower exophageal sphincter. Animals received treatment with indomethacin. Acute esophagitis occurred 7 to 10 days postirradiation in control animals and was characterized by erythema, ulceration, and sloughing of esophageal mucosa as determined by air-contrast barium esophagram, endoscopy, and histology. Prostaglandin-treated animals showed more severe evidence of esophagitis than control animals. Indomethacin-treated animals showed no signs or only mild esophagitis posttreatment. It is concluded that indomethacin treatment may significantly reduce the severity of radiation esophagitis perhaps by blockade of prostaglandin synthesis.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas System Cancer Center, Houston
• OSTI ID: 6394872
• Journal Information: Gastroenterology; (United States), Vol. 78:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANTIPYRETICS
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
ERYTHEMA
RADIOINDUCTION
ESOPHAGUS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PROSTAGLANDINS
ULCERS
ACUTE IRRADIATION
COBALT 60
EVALUATION
GAMMA RADIATION
MARSUPIALS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
COBALT ISOTOPES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
SYMPTOMS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals