title: Role of amifostine on acute and late radiation nephrotoxicity: a histopathological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was performed to determine the effect of amifostine in the prevention of radiation-induced acute and late period morphologic damages in rat kidney via light and electron microscopic examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Control rats (n=6) received saline solution 30 min before sham irradiation; the radiotherapy alone group (n=12) received saline solution 30 min before irradiation (a single dose of 15 Gy, applied unilaterally to the kidney) and a final radiotherapy +amifostine group (n=12) received 200 mg/kg amifostine 30 min prior to irradiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microscopic examinations of irradiated kidneys revealed presence of glomerular tuft capsular adhesion, fusion of the foot processes and ballon-like cellular degeneration and loss of luminal brush border in tubules as early as eight weeks after irradiation. By 24 weeks post-irradiation, these changes were advanced and associated with focal mesangiolysis, segmental sclerosis and focal tubular atrophy. In addition, local irradiation caused interstitial fibrotic lesions in the kidney. Pretreatment of amifostine markedly prevented these glomerular and tubular changes, and interstitial fibrotic lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that amifostine pretreatment may contribute to prevention of radiation-induced acute and late nephrotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, 22030 Edirne, Turkey. mkanter65@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanter
authors.forename: Yeter
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Topcu-Tarladacalisir
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uzal
mesh_terms: D004999:Amifostine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D004999:Amifostine