Alpha-adrenergic stimulation and radiosensitivity on the rat submaxillary gland.
The submaxillary glands were exposed to fractionated irradiation comparable to 50 Gy in clinical practice and a single fraction of 50 Gy. Half the number of rats were given cyclocytidine, an alpha-adrenergic agonist which depletes the serous cell granules before irradiation was embarked upon. Our results show that irradiation causes a significant, irreversible destruction of serous cells. With cyclocytidine pretreatment, the radiodamage was diminished and this drug is suggested to act as a radioprotector, depleting secretory heavy metal granules, and thus preventing radiodamage in the submaxillary salivary glands.
D003504:Ancitabine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D003504:Ancitabine