title: Radioprotection of beta-carotene evaluated on mouse somatic and germ cells.
abstract: In the present paper, the protective effect of beta-carotene was evaluated after whole body exposure of mice to 2 Gy of X-rays. Splenocytes, reticulocytes, bone marrow cells and spermatids were evaluated for the frequency of micronuclei (MN) induced by X-rays. Mice were treated (gavage) with beta-carotene (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg b.w.) for 5 consecutive days and, 4 h after the last treatment, the animals were irradiated. The results obtained showed different frequencies of X-ray-induced-MN between different cell populations analysed and also different response of these cells to the beta-carotene treatment. The radioprotective effect of beta-carotene was observed in splenocytes, reticulocytes, and spermatids but not in bone marrow cells. No dose-response relationship for beta-carotene was detected. The time of sampling, the sensitivity of the cells as well as the antioxidant activity of beta-carotene are discussed as important factors for the radioprotective action of this provitamin.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Botucatu, Brasil.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Salvadori
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Boei
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Natarajan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013087:Spermatids / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D019207:beta Carotene