The ultrastructure of radiation injury in rat lung: modification by D-penicillamine. [/sup 60/Co]

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3575844· OSTI ID:6418169

Port, C D; Ward, W F

The present study compared the ultrastructure of radiation injury in the lungs of penicillamine-treated and untreated male rats sacrificed 3, 6, 9, or 12 months after a single exposure of 25 Gy of /sup 60/Co ..gamma..-rays to the right hemithorax. All morphological components of the irradiated lungs exhibited injury typical of pneumonitis progressing to interstitial fibrosis. In addition to these well-documented responses, several less common ultrastructural changes were noted, including capillary recanalization; focal disappearance of interstitial collagen fibers, initially perivascularly, then throughout some septa; and a low-grade but significant cellular reaction in the shielded left lung. Radiation reactions in the lungs of penicillamine-treated rats were qualitatively similar to those of untreated animals, but differed in the degree of change: collagen deposition was less extensive and less highly organized into fibers, capillary recanalization and disappearance of interstitial collagen were more common, and arterial wall thickening was reduced in the drug-treated rats. Thus the beneficial effect of penicillamine on the histopathology of irradiated rat lung does not appear to be attributable to unique ultrastructural phenomena. Rather, penicillamine treatment produces a generalized inhibition of pathologic events such as collagen accumulation and arterial wall thickening, and acceleration of restorative processes such as revascularization and collagen degradation.

• Research Organization: Northwestern Univ. Medical School, Chicago, IL
• OSTI ID: 6418169
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 92:1; 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.
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHELATING AGENTS
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FIBROSIS
GAMMA RADIATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PENICILLAMINE
PNEUMONITIS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
THIOLS
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES