title: Immune functions of spleen lymphocytes of rats subjected to chronic irradiation and antioxidant (ubiquinone Q-9) diet.
abstract: The dynamics of T and B cell immunity in spleens from rat exposed to whole-body chronic irradiation with dose rates of 12.9 cGy/day (range 1-10 Gy) and 3.0 cGy/day (range 0.57-2.04 Gy) were investigated. gamma-irradiation with a dose-rate of 12.9 cGy/day was shown to produce a wave-like suppression of the T lymphocyte mitogenic response. Irradiation with a dose-rate of 3.0 cGy/day caused a decrease in immune response of T lymphocytes 48 days after onset of exposure (total dose 1.4 Gy). It was also shown that chronic irradiation with a dose-rate of 3.0 cGy/day produced significant changes in the DNA of T lymphocytes. Our results show that the radiation-induced suppression of immune functions and damage to DNA structure were partially eliminated when animals were fed a daily diet supplemented with a natural antioxidant, ubiquinone Q-9. The inhibiting effect of chronic irradiation was more pronounced in B lymphocytes because of their higher radiosensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Novoselova
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Safonova
authors.lastname: Gordon RYa
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Semiletova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D004032:Diet; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014451:Ubiquinone; D004247:DNA; C030571:ubiquinone 9