Nutritional supplementation with arginine protects radiation-induced effects. An experimental study.
To investigate the protective effect of L-arginine on the prostate (nonneoplasic) of rats with radiation-induced injury.
Twenty-nine Wistar rats, male adult, allocated into three groups: Control group (C) was not exposed to irradiation (n=10); Radiated group (R) had undergone pelvic irradiation (n=10); Supplemented and radiated group (R+S) had undergone pelvic irradiation plus L-arginine supplementation (n=9). The animals were observed for signs of toxicity. After euthanization, the prostate was dissected under magnification and stained by hematoxylin and eosin to study acinar structures and stained with Picrosirius red for collagen analysis.
After radiation exposure, all animals presented diarrhea, but supplementation with L-arginine reduced this effect. The weight gain in the R+S group was significantly higher than in the C and R groups. In the R+S group the collagen density and the prostate acinar area was similar to the R and C groups. Epithelial height was significantly reduced in group R compared with group C (p<0.0001). When comparing the group R+S with R, a statistical difference was observed to be present (p<0.0001).
Pelvic radiation promotes systemic effects and some structural modifications in the ventral prostate of rats. These modifications can be prevented by oral supplementation with L-arginine.
Assistant Professor, Researcher, Nucleus of Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, Center for Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife-PE, Brazil. Design of the study, histomorphometrical examinations, statistical analysis, manuscript writing.
Flavia Cristina Morone
FC
Pinto
Graduate student, Urogenital Research Unit, Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Brazil. Acquisition of data, histomorphometrical examinations.
Pamella
P
Campos-Silva
Assistant Professor, Researcher, Urogenital Research Unit, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil. Intellectual and scientific content of the study, functional examination.
Diogo Benchimol de
DB
Souza
Associate Professor, Urogenital Research Unit, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil. Design of the study, manuscript writing, supervised all phases of the study.
Waldemar Silva
WS
Costa
Full Professor, CNPq 1A Researcher, Urogenital Research Unit, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil. Intellectual and scientific content of the study.
Francisco José Barcellos
FJ
Sampaio
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010388:Pelvis / Q000528:radiation effects; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003094:Collagen; D001120:Arginine