title: Gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome in Göttingen minipigs (Sus scrofa domestica).
abstract: In the absence of supportive care, exposing Göttingen minipigs to γ-radiation doses of less than 2 Gy achieves lethality due to hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome. Doses of 2 to 5 Gy are associated with an accelerated hematopoietic syndrome, characterized by villus blunting and fusion, the beginning of sepsis, and a mild transient reduction in plasma citrulline concentration. We exposed male Göttingen minipigs (age, 5 mo; weight, 9 to 11 kg) to γ-radiation doses of 5 to 12 Gy (total body; (60)Co, 0.6 Gy/min) to test whether these animals exhibit classic gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome (GI-ARS). After exposure, the minipigs were monitored for 10 d by using clinical signs, CBC counts, and parameters associated with the development of the gastrointestinal syndrome. Göttingen minipigs exposed to γ radiation of 5 to 12 Gy demonstrate a dose-dependent occurrence of all parameters classically associated with acute GI-ARS. These results suggest that Göttingen minipigs may be a suitable model for studying GI-ARS after total body irradiation, but the use of supportive care to extend survival beyond 10 d is recommended. This study is the first step toward determining the feasibility of using Göttingen minipigs in testing the efficacy of candidate drugs for the treatment of GI-ARS after total body irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Combined Injury Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Nicolaas E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Deutz
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Sciences Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Jatinder
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gulani
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Sciences Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Amory
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Cara H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Division of Comparative Pathology, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Sciences Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chappell
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Whitnall
authors.affiliation: Radiation Countermeasures Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. maria.moroni@usuhs.edu.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moroni
mesh_terms: D054508:Acute Radiation Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002956:Citrulline / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006652:Histological Techniques; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
chemical_list: D002956:Citrulline