Studies on the radioprotective potency of amifostine on salivary glands of rats during fractionated irradiation: acute and late effects.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radioprotective potential of amifostine on the salivary glands of rats with respect to the acute and late effects. The head and neck area of WAG/RijH rats was irradiated with (60)Co-gamma rays (60 Gy/30f for 6 weeks). Amifostine (250 mg/m(2) body surface) or an equal volume of physiologic saline was applied intravenously 15 min before each irradiation. In the course of treatment the salivary glands were examined histopathologically. Body weight was measured sequentially during irradiation. A cytoprotective effect of amifostine on the acute toxicity of salivary glands could not be detected under fractionated irradiation. However, late effects such as fibrosis and necrosis of the glands 6 months after irradiation were less developed in the amifostine group. The weight loss of the amifostine-treated animals during fractioned irradiation was higher than in the irradiated group. Amifostine has a significant cytoprotective effect on the late toxicity of irradiated salivary glands. However, the acute toxicity of the glands during radiotherapy cannot be reduced.
Sagowski
Christoph
C
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. sagowski@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Wenzel
Soeren
S
Metternich
Frank Uwe
FU
Kehrl
Wolfgang
W
D000208:Acute Disease; D004999:Amifostine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D004999:Amifostine