Study of damage to red blood cells exposed to different doses of γ-ray irradiation.
BACKGROUND
The aims of this research were to study alterations in the ultrastructure of red blood cells, the changes in concentrations of plasma electrolytes and the killing effect of lymphocytes in samples of blood exposed to different doses of γ-ray irradiation.


METHODS
Blood samples were treated with different doses of γ-ray irradiation and then preserved for different periods. Specimens were prepared for standard electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. At the same time, changes in the concentrations of Na(+), K(+) and Cl(-) and pH values in the plasma as well as Fas and FasL expression of lymphocytes before and after irradiation were determined.


RESULTS
The proportions of reversibly and irreversibly transformed cells, for example, echinocytes, sphero-echinocytes, and degenerated forms, increased with increasing doses of irradiation and storage period, while the number of discocyte shaped red blood cells decreased. The change in K(+) concentration was greater than that of Na+ or Cl(-) after irradiation and was dosage-dependent. Plasma pH was influenced by different doses of radiation and storage time. After exposure to (137)Cs γ-irradiation, the expression of both Fas and FasL in lymphocytes differed significantly from that in the control group: the expression was positively correlated with irradiation dose (r=0.95, 0.96), but no significant difference in the Fas/FasL ratio was observed (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the ultrastructure of red blood cells is not changed obviously by irradiation with some doses of γ-rays and various periods of storage. However, irradiation does have some dose-dependent and time-dependent adverse effects on the erythrocytes.
Institute of Transfusion, Ningbo Blood Center, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. deyixu2006@126.com
Deyi
D
Xu
Mingxi
M
Peng
Zhe
Z
Zhang
Guofei
G
Dong
Yiqin
Y
Zhang
Hongwei
H
Yu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000528:radiation effects*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis
D002712:Chlorides; C491901:FAS protein, human; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium