title: Radon inhalation protects against transient global cerebral ischemic injury in gerbils.
abstract: Although brain disorders are not the main indication for radon therapy, our previous study suggested that radon inhalation therapy might mitigate brain disorders. In this study, we assessed whether radon inhalation protects against transient global cerebral ischemic injury in gerbils. Gerbils were treated with inhaled radon at a concentration of 2,000 Bq/m(3) for 24 h. After radon inhalation, transient global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery. Results showed that transient global cerebral ischemia induced neuronal damage in hippocampal CA1, and the number of damaged neurons was significantly increased compared with control. However, radon treatment inhibited ischemic damage. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the radon-treated gerbil brain was significantly higher than that in sham-operated gerbils. These findings suggested that radon inhalation activates antioxidative function, especially SOD, thereby inhibiting transient global cerebral ischemic injury in gerbils.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, 5-1 Shikata-cho 2-chome, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan, kataokat@md.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: Reo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Etani
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumashiro
authors.forename: Takehito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.forename: Kiyonori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaoka
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011886:Radon / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011886:Radon