Vitamin E protects against the development of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the application of vitamin E with or without pentoxifylline could modify the development of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis.


METHODS
Wistar albino rats were supplemented with either vitamin E or pentoxifylline or with both vitamin E and pentoxifylline after a single dose of 14 Gy thoracic irradiation. Supplementation was started the day after irradiation and continued until the rats were sacrificed. As a quantitative end point, the extent of fibrosis was evaluated with a scale from 0 (normal lung) to 8 (total fibrous obliteration of the field) at pathological examination of the lung tissue.


RESULTS
A significant reduction in fibrosis was obtained in the group of rats supplemented with vitamin E with or without pentoxifylline, when compared with the group that had irradiation only.


CONCLUSIONS
This experimental study showed that vitamin E supplementation immediately after irradiation protected rats against radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis. The combination with pentoxifylline was more effective, although pentoxifylline itself had limited efficacy, which was not statistically significant.
Bese
N S
NS
Department of Radiation Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, 34098 Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey. nuranbese@superonline.com
Munzuroglu
F
F
Uslu
B
B
Arbak
S
S
Yesiladali
G
G
Sut
N
N
Altug
T
T
Ober
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D014810:Vitamin E; D010431:Pentoxifylline