title: Radiation effects on growth are altered in rats by prednisone and methotrexate.
abstract: CNS therapy for childhood leukemia has adverse effects upon growth and cognition. The cause of these deficits is unknown. In a rat model, we determined which agent, or combination of agents, in CNS therapy affected growth. Young Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to cranial irradiation (1000 cGy), methotrexate (2 or 4 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), or prednisolone (18 or 36 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) alone or in two- or three-agent combinations. Matched control groups received appropriate sham radiation, intraperitoneal saline, or both. Body weight was recorded from 14 through 150 d of age. After the rats were killed at 150 d, body length was recorded and the head and left femur were removed to determine body and craniofacial proportions. Cranial irradiation alone, but not methotrexate or prednisolone alone, stunted growth permanently and altered craniofacial proportions. When these agents were combined, methotrexate and prednisolone modified the growth response to cranial irradiation. Methotrexate given before cranial irradiation prevented radiation stunting in males. This protection was lost when the dose of methotrexate was increased, when prednisolone was added to the combination, or when females were studied. The protection in males was effective against both growth and behavioral deficits. These results indicate that the physical and behavioral side effects of CNS therapy are better understood in the context of dose, sex, and interactions of the agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Forsyth Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schunior
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mullenix
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Zengel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Landy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howes
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Tarbell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002508:Cephalometry; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
chemical_list: D011239:Prednisolone; D008727:Methotrexate