title: Vitamin E protects against the development of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, 34098 Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey. nuranbese@superonline.com
authors: N S
authors: NS
authors: Bese
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Munzuroglu
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Uslu
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Arbak
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Yesiladali
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Sut
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Altug
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ober
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D014810:Vitamin E; D010431:Pentoxifylline