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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds
Published on: February 16, 2022
The role of nitric oxide in radiation damage
Setsuko Ohta1, Shinji Matsuda, Mihoko Gunji
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hoshi University, Tokyo, Japan. ohta@hoshi.ac.jp
Abstract:
This study investigated the role of nitric oxide in radiation-induced damage by examining changes in mouse serum nitrate concentrations after irradiation. In addition, the contribution of S-2-aminoethylisothiourea 2HBr (AET) to the mechanisms of radiation damage protection was also clarified. The serum nitrate concentration increased as soon as 1.5 h after irradiation, and after 2.5 to 3.0 h the concentrations were significantly higher compared with normal levels. Normal levels were re-established after 12 h. Post-irradiation serum nitrate concentrations increased dose-dependently with irradiation dose (19.6-31.5 Gy). AET suppressed increases in the serum nitrate concentration following irradiation while 2-mercaptoethylamine HCl (MEA) did not. AET has an inhibitory effect on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS); therefore, the increase in nitric oxide after irradiation may be produced by iNOS. Combined administration of irradiation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced a significant increase in serum nitrate concentration, and a significant decrease in survival rate, compared with irradiation alone. The administration of AET or aminoguanidine increased survival rate following irradiation. In contrast to findings after LPS administration, IL-1beta and IFN-gamma were not determined in serum following irradiation. Existing iNOS is activated by irradiation, and nitric oxide production appears to increase without iNOS induction. Thus, the irradiation-induced increase in nitric oxide may be related to lethal injury.
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