The ultrastructure of radiation injury in rat lung: modification by D-penicillamine. [/sup 60/Co]
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), Vol. 92:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
FIBROSIS
RADIOINDUCTION
LUNGS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
PENICILLAMINE
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
PNEUMONITIS
COBALT 60
GAMMA RADIATION
RATS
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHELATING AGENTS
COBALT ISOTOPES
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
THIOLS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals