title: Whole body exposure to low-dose gamma radiation promotes kidney antioxidant status in Balb/c mice.
abstract: We examined the effect of whole body low-dose gamma-irradiation on the status of the antioxidant defense system in the rodent kidneys at different time intervals. Young male Balb/c mice were exposed to whole body radiation from a (60)Co source at doses of 10, 25 and 50 cGy (48.78 cGy/min). Antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation were estimated in the kidneys at 4, 12 and 24 h after irradiation. Lipid peroxidation increased between 33% and 49% and reduced glutathione between 12% and 47% at 12 h at different radiation doses. Reduced glutathione level remained significantly (p < 0.05) elevated even at 24 h after irradiation to 25 cGy. Superoxide dismutase activity also increased by 37% at 12 h on exposure of animals to all the doses up to 50 cGy. Catalase activity increased significantly at 12 h on exposure to 10 cGy and 50 cGy. Interestingly, glutathione peroxidase activity increased by 31% at 4 h and subsequently returned to control levels at 24 h after exposure to 50 cGy. Glutathione reductase activity increased by 10-12% at 12 h after exposure to 25 cGy and 50 cGy. The results suggest that the whole body exposure of animals to gamma radiation stimulates the antioxidant defense system in the kidneys within 4 to 24 h after irradiation, at doses of 25 cGy and 50 cGy.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. chander_pathak@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Chander Mohan
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Pramod Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Avti
authors.forename: Surender
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Krishan Lal
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Khanduja
authors.forename: Suresh Chander
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013997:Time Factors; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D004798:Enzymes; D005978:Glutathione