Histopathological Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Glycyrrhizic Acid as a Radioprotector Against the Development of Radiation-Induced Lung Fibrosis.
BACKGROUND
Radiotherapy of the thorax often causes lung inflammation leading to fibrosis.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of glycyrrhizic acid (GLA) could improve the development of lung fibrosis in irradiated animals.


METHODS
Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Group A rats received thoracic irradiation. Rats in group B received GLA and irradiation. Group C received GLA and no irradiation. Group D received no GLA and irradiation. GLA was administered at a dose of 4 mg/kg body weight using an intraperitoneal injection one hour before thoracic irradiation. Radiation therapy was delivered on a Cobalt-60 unit using a single fraction of 16 Gy. The animals were sacrificed at 32 weeks following thoracic irradiation. The lungs were dissected and blind histopathological evaluation was performed.


RESULTS
Histopathologically, a decrease (statistically not significant) in the thickening of alveolar or bronchial wall, formation of fibrous bands, and superimposed collagen were noted in the animals in group B as compared to the animals in group A.


CONCLUSIONS
In this experimental study, administration of GLA one hour before thoracic irradiation may be a protective agent against radiation-induced fibrosis in animals and this model could be used in future studies.
Department of Medical Physics, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
Soheila
S
Refahi
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Bagher
B
Minaei
Department of Radiology, Paramedical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Gholam Hassan
GH
Haddadi
Department of Medical Physics, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Samideh
S
Khoei
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Azam
A
Bakhtiarian
Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Masoud
M
Pourissa
Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abbas
A
Takavar
Glycyrrhizic Acid; Histopathology; Lung fibrosis; Radioprotector
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