title: The effect of human cord blood therapy on the intestinal tract of lethally irradiated mice: possible use for mass casualties.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the recovery of the gastrointestinal tract in lethally irradiated mice treated with human cord blood and antibiotics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A/J mice were randomly assigned to seven study groups, including groups exposed to acute 9 Gy from (137)Cs gamma-rays to the whole body. Four hours after irradiation, exposed mice were treated with either cord blood nucleated cells, Levaquin, or a combination of both. Weight gain/loss and survival were monitored for 2 months. Upon death or euthanasia, the organs were prepared for molecular and histological analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whereas irradiated mice (n = 9) lived 6-15 days, approximately 60% of irradiated mice that received the combined treatment (n = 7) survived more than 50 days. None of the treated animals developed Graft versus Host disease. All animals lost weight after irradiation; however, the 50(+) days-survivors (n = 4) gained on average approximately 1.8 g over their initial weight. Whereas hemorrhagic bone marrow and large areas of transmural necrosis were observed in the bowel of the irradiated mice, the 50(+) days-survivors showed recovery of the bone marrow. They behaved normally and had significant but incomplete recovery of the intestinal and colonic mucosa. Human DNA was detected in their organs, particularly in the large intestine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Red cell-depleted cord blood transfusions combined with antibiotic treatment contribute to bone marrow and gastrointestinal recovery in high dose-irradiated mice, and may be an available therapy for mass casualties during radiological emergencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. azzamei@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Edouard I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Azzam
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Soyeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Olga A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Kovalenko
authors.forename: Manoochehr
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khorshidi
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ende
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000637:transplantation*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D051379:Mice; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064704:Levofloxacin; D004247:DNA; D015242:Ofloxacin