title: Amelioration of type II diabetes in db/db mice by continuous low-dose-rate gamma irradiation.
abstract: Low-dose-rate radiation modulates various biological responses including carcinogenesis, immunological responses and diabetes. We found that continuous irradiation with low-dose-rate gamma rays ameliorated type II diabetes in db/db mice, diabetic mice that lack leptin receptors. Whole-body exposure of db/db mice to low dose-rate gamma radiation improved glucose clearance without affecting the response to insulin. Histological studies suggested that degeneration of pancreatic islets was significantly suppressed by the radiation. Insulin secretion in response to glucose loading was increased significantly in the irradiated mice. These results suggest that low-dose-rate gamma radiation ameliorates type II diabetes by maintaining insulin secretion, which gradually decreases during the progression of diabetes due to degeneration of pancreatic islets. We also inferred that protection from oxidative damage is involved in the anti-diabetic effect of low-dose-rate gamma rays because expression and activity of pancreatic superoxide dismutase were significantly elevated by low-dose-rate gamma radiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Research and Innovation, 1201 Takada, Kashiwa, Chiba 227-0861, Japan.
authors.forename: Mie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuruga
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taki
authors.forename: Genichiro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Yurie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Chiharu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugihara
authors.forename: Takaharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ochiai
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magae
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase