Radiation injury in rat lung: I. Prostacyclin (PGI/sub 2/) production, arterial perfusion, and ultrastructure
Pulmonary prostacyclin (PGI/sub 2/) production, arterial perfusion, and ultrastructure were correlated in rats sacrificed from 1 day to 6 months after a single exposure of 25 Gy of gamma rays to the right hemithorax. PGI/sub 2/ production by the irradiated lung decreased to approximately half the normal value 1 day after irradiation (P < 0.05), then increased steadily throughout the study. By 6 months postirradiation, the right lung produced two to three times as much PGI/sub 2/ as did either shielded left lung or sham-irradiated lungs (P < 0.05). Perfusion scans revealed hyperemia of the right lung from 1 to 14 days after irradiation. From its peak at 14 days postirradiation, however, perfusion of the irradiated lung decreased steadily, then reached a plateau from 3 to 6 months at less than half that in the shielded left lung. Electron micrographs of the right lung revealed perivascular edema from 1 to 30 days after irradiation. The right lung then exhibited changes typical of radiation pneumonitis followed by progressive interstitial fibrosis. Platelet aggregates were not observed at any time. Thus, decreased PGI/sub 2/ production is an immediate but transient response of the lung to radiation injury. Then from 2 to 6 months after irradiation, the fibrotic, hypoperfused lung produces increasing amounts of the potent vasodilator and antithrombotic agent, PGI/sub 2/. Pulmonary PGI/sub 2/ production and arterial perfusion are inversely correlated for at least 6 months after hemithoracic irradiation.
- Research Organization:
- Northwestern Univ. Medical School, Chicago, IL
- OSTI ID:
- 5016063
- Journal Information:
- Radiat. Res.; (United States), Vol. 96:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
EDEMA
RADIOINDUCTION
FIBROSIS
LUNGS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PNEUMONITIS
PROSTAGLANDINS
BIOCHEMISTRY
COBALT 60
GAMMA RADIATION
PATHOGENESIS
PERFUSED ORGANS
RATS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CHEMISTRY
COBALT ISOTOPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MICROSCOPY
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SYMPTOMS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals
550200 - Biochemistry