The protective effects of vitamin E on microcephaly in rats X-irradiated in utero: DNA, lipid peroxide and confronting cisternae.
Fetuses from rats given either water or 0.03% D,L-alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) as a drinking fluid and X-irradiated with 100 rad on gestational day 13 were examined on gestational day 21. Mean cerebral weight which was significantly reduced by the X-irradiation was increased by vitamin E supplementation but the level did not reach that in sham-irradiated controls. Administration of vitamin E caused an increase in DNA concentration which was significantly reduced by X-irradiation with water treatment. An increase in the mean level of lipid peroxide formation was observed in the water-treated, X-irradiated group in the sample at zero time but not in the vitamin E-treated, X-irradiated group. In the cytoplasm of fetal cerebral neurons from X-irradiated dams with vitamin E supplementation, confronting cisternae were frequently observed between two nuclear envelopes. Confronting cisternae may be considered as a repair mechanism of vitamin E against X-irradiated neuronal damage in the fetal cerebrum. This study provides evidence of the protection by vitamin E of neuronal development in X-irradiated fetuses, through its antioxidant properties, against attacks by free radicals and/or lipid peroxide.
Tanaka
H
H
Iwasaki
S
S
Inomata
K
K
Nasu
F
F
Nishimura
S
S
D000016:Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000032:analysis*; D008831:Microcephaly / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D014810:Vitamin E; D004247:DNA