Selenium content and distribution in rat tissues irradiated with gamma rays

The effects of supplementation with selenous yeast and ionizing radiation on selenium (Se) content and distribution were evaluated in rat tissues (liver, kidney, spleen, heart, muscle, blood, front brain, hind brain, hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal glands, testes, and hair). This study had 16 Se-supplemented (0.5 μg Se/d) and 16 placebo adult male Wistar rats. One half of the animals (eight Se-supplemented and eight placebos) were irradiated with a single dose of 4.2 Gy from a Co-60 source and sacrificed 7 d after irradiation along with nonirradiated animals and analyzed for Se content determination. The data obtained showed that selenous yeast supplementation increased Se levels in rat tissues (highest increases in hypothalamus, 161%; hind brain, 126%; spleen, 110%; and adrenal gland, 105%). Ionizing radiation induced significant changes in Se content and distribution (decrease in liver, blood, hair, femoral muscle, spleen, and hypothalamus; increase in kidney, testes, adrenal glands, and brain of placebo group). Supplementation with selenous yeast reduces changes in Se content and distribution after irradiation. It seems that the animal tissue susceptibility to oxidative damage may be correlated to their ability to retain Se in tissues.     

Borohydride-reducible components in soluble collagen irradiated with gamma rays in solution.

1. Irradiation with 100 krad of gamma rays of neutral-salt-soluble rat skin collagen decreased the content of aldol cross-links by a factor of three, whereas it did not affect the content of allysine. 2. On reduction with tritiated sodium borohydride, five new components were detected showing different stability towards acid and alkali.     

Catabolism of pyrimidine nucleotides in the liver of irradiated animals

A study was made of the activity of nucleoside diphosphatase (NDPase, EC 3.6.1.16) and nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase, EC 3.6.1.15) that catalyze enzymatic dephosphorylation of UDP, CDP, UTP, and CTP in mitochondria and postmitochondrial supernatant fraction of rat liver 30 min, 1, 3, 6 and 24 h following 60Co-gamma-irradiation with a dose of 774 mC/kg. The observed phase changes in the enzyme activity depended on the times of exposure, a cell fraction, and nucleotides under study. Both uridylic and cytidylic nucleotides exhibited a significant increase in the their enzymatic disintegration being more pronounced at a comparatively later times, that is, 6 h, and particularly, 24 h after irradiation.     

Studies on the morphology and histology of the ovary of red palm weevil female irradiated with gamma rays

The present study involves red palm weevil adults Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) irradiated with 5, 10 or 15 Gy of gamma radiation. The biological effects of gamma irradiation on the F₁ adult females, descendant of irradiated parental male pupae, were studied. The percentage egg hatch decreased significantly, as the dose increased, compared with the untreated control.The effect of gamma irradiation on the morphology of the ovaries showed a remarkable effect on size, shape and measurement of the paired ovaries.Additionally, histological studies showed some damages by irradiation of the oocytes maturation, which increased with increasing dose. These symptoms were elongation of the terminal filament, rupture, separation, or shrinkage of external sheath and follicular epithelium, degenerated or absent of nurse cells, and ruptured oocytes at 15 Gy.Vacuolation appeared in different degrees inside the oocytes and the nurse cells were absent in some areas. The damage in the oocytes was more severe as the dose was increased. The follicular epithelium was thin, oocytes clumped together throughout the ovariole causing some oocytes become abnormal or rectangular in shape.     

Effects of flavobion on nucleic acids in tissues of rats irradiated with gamma rays]

Flavobion /SPOFA/ is a hepatoprotective preparation containing an effective constituent--the flavonoids, namely, silybin, silydianin and silychristin, collectively referred to as silymarin. Silymarin can influence certain metabolic processes including RNA synthesis and stabilize cell membranes. Suspension of this preparation was given p. o. by tube in a dose of 70 mg/kg, one hour before whole-body irradiation with a 5.7 Gy dose of gamma radiation (60Co). Animals were subjected to partial hepatectomy/by 30 min. after irradiation/and examined on hour 30 after operation. The changes in concentration and total content of RNA and DNA in the liver (both intact and regenerating), spleen and bone marrow were followed. We found that Flavobion administration influenced the concentration and total content of RNA and DNA in the spleen and bone marrow. However, in a target organ, liver, changes in nucleic acids were less pronounced.     

Immobilization of fumarase by entrapment of rat liver mitochondria in polyacrylamide gel using gamma rays

A stable immobilized preparation of fumarase (EC 4.2.1.2) was obtained by entrapment of rat liver mitochondria in acrylamide polymerized by using gamma irradiation (100 kR). The enhanced stability and the efficiency of the entrapped enzyme have shown potential for repeated use for the production of L-malic acid from fumaric acid. The possible formation of succinic acid in the system could be controlled by incorporating malonate along with detergents such as sodium deoxycholate or sodium dodecylsulfate in the reactor system.