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Tissue trace element change after total body irradiation.
Mustafa Cengiz1, Murat Gurkaynak, Hüseyin Vural
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. mucengiz@hotmail.com
Nephron. Experimental Nephrology
|June 14, 2003
Summary
Total body irradiation (TBI) significantly increases copper and iron in rat kidneys, potentially contributing to radiation-induced kidney toxicity. This study investigated trace element changes post-TBI and their effects.
Area of Science:
- Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
- Toxicology
- Trace Element Research
Background:
- Total body irradiation (TBI) is a critical component of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
- Understanding the long-term effects of TBI, including organ-specific toxicities, is crucial for patient outcomes.
- Alterations in tissue trace element levels following irradiation are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a single fraction of TBI on tissue trace element and iron content in rats.
- To correlate observed changes in trace elements with late toxicities, particularly in the kidney.
Main Methods:
- Female Wistar rats underwent either TBI (5 Gy) or served as controls.
- Kidney, heart, and lung tissues were analyzed for zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, and iron levels 8 weeks post-irradiation.
- Kidney tissue was examined using electron microscopy.
- Blood chemistry, including serum creatinine and calcium, was assessed.
Main Results:
- Kidney levels of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) significantly increased 8 weeks after TBI (p < 0.05).
- Electron microscopy revealed significant kidney injury, including glomerular endothelial cell damage and tubular injury.
- TBI group showed elevated serum creatinine and calcium levels compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Sublethal TBI leads to the deposition of copper and iron in the kidneys.
- These elemental depositions may play an additional role in the direct radiation-induced kidney toxicity.