title: Re-assessment of chronic radio-induced tissue damage in a rat hindlimb model.
abstract: Radiotherapy is successfully used to treat neoplastic lesions, but may adversely affect normal tissues within the irradiated volume. However, additional clinical and para-clinical data are required for a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of this damage. We assessed a rat model using clinical records and medical imaging to gain a better understanding of irradiation-induced tissue damage. The hindlimbs of the rats in this model were irradiated with a single dose of 30 or 50 Gy. Sequential analysis was based on observation records of stage and planar scintigraphy. Additional radiography, radiohistology and histology studies were performed to detect histological alterations. All animals developed acute and late effects, with an increased severity after a dose of 50 Gy. The bone uptake of (99m)Tc-HDP was significantly decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Histologically, significant tissue damage was observed. After the 50 Gy irradiation, the animals developed lesions characteristic of osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Radiographic and histological studies provided evidence of lytic bone lesions. Our rat model developed tissue damage characteristic of radiation injury after a single 30 Gy irradiation and tissue degeneration similar to that which occurs during human ORN after a 50 Gy irradiation. The development of this animal model is an essential step in exploring the pathogenesis of irradiation-induced tissue damage, and may be used to test the efficacy of new treatments.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck and Dental Surgery Units, Oncologic Surgery Department, Centre Alexis Vautrin; ; Tumor Biology Unit, EA4421 SIGReTO UHP-Nancy University, Centre Alexis Vautrin;
authors.forename: Bérengère
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Phulpin
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dolivet
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poussier
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallet
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leroux
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Graff
authors.forename: Frederique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Groubach
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bravetti
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Merlin
authors.forename: Nguyen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tran