Effects of glycine betaine on bone marrow death and intestinal damage by gamma rays and carbon ions.
In this study, we investigated the effects of glycine betaine (GB) on bone marrow death and intestinal damage by gamma rays or carbon ions. C(3)H/He female mice received an i.p.-injection of GB before or after whole-body irradiation with gamma rays or 50 keV microm(-1) carbon ions. The irradiated mice were observed to determine the mortality for 30 days after exposure. Mice were also killed at 3.5 days after the exposure to determine the intestinal damage. The numbers of crypts per transverse circumference were counted using a microscope. For the bone marrow death, GB (93 mg GB per mouse) significantly (p < 0.05) increased the percentage survival for both radiations. For the intestinal damage, GB (93 mg GB per mouse) significantly (p < 0.05) increased the crypt survival for gamma rays, but not for carbon ions. GB might be a potential protector against normal tissue damage as a side effect in radiotherapy.
Monobe
M
M
National Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science, National Agriculture Research Organization, 2769 Kanaya, Shimada, Shizuoka 428-8501, Japan. monobe@affrc.go.jp
Hamano
N
N
Sumi
M
M
Mukai
K
K
Moritake
T
T
Anzai
K
K
Uzawa
A
A
Ando
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020450:Heavy Ions / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D001622:Betaine