Potential role of the membrane in the development of intestinal cellular damage after whole-body gamma irradiation of the rat

Abstract

Our study emphasizes the effect of gamma irradiation on intestinal cell membrane fluidity and addresses the potential relationships existing between radiation-induced lipoperoxidation, membrane fluidity, and changes in membrane protein activities. Male Wistar rats were exposed to an 8-Gy total body irradiation (60Co source) and studied 1, 4, and 7 days after irradiation (D1, D4, and D7). Membrane enzyme activities and fluorescence anisotropy were determined on small intestinal crude membrane preparations. The supernatants of membrane preparations as well as plasma were used for malonedialdehyde (MDA) quantification. The effect of carbamylcholine on electrical parameters was estimated on distal ileum placed in Ussing chambers. We observed a decrease in fluorescence anisotropy for at least 7 days, an increase in membrane production of MDA at D4, a decrease in membrane enzyme activities at D4, but an amplification of carbamylcholine-induced increase in short-circuit current at D4 and D7. Furthermore, correlations were observed between the 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene anisotropy coefficient and sucrase activity and between MDA levels and leucine aminopeptidase activity. Thus, total body irradiation induces changes in intestinal membrane fluidity and an increase in lipoperoxidation. These modifications may have an impact on the activity of membrane proteins involved in intestinal function.

Lycopene in the Prevention of Gastrointestinal Toxicity of Radiotherapy

“…Radiation induces production of reactive oxygen free radicals, which may result in DNA damage and lipid peroxidation. Oxidation of lipid membranes can be evaluated by measuring plasma TBARS levels (9,10). In a murine model, radiationinduced clinical and pathological findings were clearly noticeable 3 to 4 days after RT (8).…”

“…Saada and coworkers (9) found similar reduction in TBARS levels in rats given lycopene 7 days before 7 Gy total body RT. Lebrun et al (10) found that the MDA levels of the small intestine increased on Day 4 and returned to initial level on Day 7 after 8 Gy total body irradiation (10).…”

Plasma citrulline concentration: A surrogate end point for radiation-induced mucosal atrophy of the small bowel. A feasibility study in 23 patients

“…A wide diversity of functional disorders have been observed after ionizing radiation, such as motility dysfunction (1,2), changes in transepithelial transport processes (3,4), or the absorption of various nutrients, such as carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, and bile acid (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). Acute radiation-induced smallbowel toxicity may necessitate treatment interruption, an established detrimental factor for treatment outcome (11).…”

Intestinal injury can be effectively prevented by Dunaliella salina in gamma irradiated rats

“…Small bowel irradiation results in epithelial cell loss and consequently impairs function and metabolism. Many functional disorders have been reported after exposure to ionizing radiation, including changes in trans-epithelial transport processes (Lebrun et al., 2002) affecting the absorption of various nutrient substances such as carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, and bile acid (Travis and Menzies, 1992). Some of these functional changes have been correlated with the epithelial cell mass available for absorption, suggesting a cellular basis in at least part of radiation-induced functional disorders.…”