Splenic, hepatic, renal and pulmonary clearance dysfunction associated with high-energy X-rays

Abstract

Purpose

To verify the high-energy X-rays effects on the blood clearance of colloidal particles by the spleen, liver, kidneys, and lungs.

Materials and methods

Seventeen male Wistar rats were distributed into three groups. Group 1 (n = 5) – control – non-irradiated animals, group 2 (n = 6) – irradiated animals studied 24 h after irradiation, and group 3 (n = 6) – irradiated animals studied 48 h after irradiation. The animals were anesthetized and irradiated with a non-fractionated 8 Gy dose in the abdominal region divided into two parallel and opposite fields, 4 Gy was given to the anteroposterior and 4 Gy to the posteroanterior. This high dose of high-energy X-rays causes extensive cell killing, tissue disorganization and break down cell to cell communication. According to the groups, 50 µCi of technetium-phytate were injected into the right internal jugular vein. After 30 minutes, the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs were removed. The clot was harvested from the abdominal cavity two minutes after the sectioning of the abdominal aorta and cava vein. The organs and clot were placed into plastic flasks to be weighed and studied for the emission of radioactivity in a gamma radiation detector. The uptake function of each organ was calculated based on the count of gamma rays emitted per minute and normalized with the organ mass, having as a reference the radioactivity count of a standard sample. The arithmetic mean of each organ uptake was calculated and compared among the groups.

Results

After irradiation, the spleen uptake of colloidal radiopharmaceutical was greater, while the hepatic, renal, and pulmonary uptake were lower. The renal uptake decreased slower than the hepatic and pulmonary uptake.

Conclusions

A single high dose of high-energy X-rays enhances the splenic clearance function, while it reduces the hepatic, renal, and pulmonary clearance until 48 h after irradiation, with a rapid deterioration of the hepatic and pulmonary uptake function.

Keywords:

• Spleen
• kidney
• liver
• lung
• clearance
• irradiation

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais), FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais), and the UFMG Pró-reitoria de Pesquisa. The authors also wish to thank Centro de Radioterapia do Hospital Luxemburgo de Belo Horizonte for irradiating the animals.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fernando P. de Faria

Fernando P. de Faria, PhD, is a post-doctoral researcher at the Nuclear Engineering Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Andy Petroianu

Andy Petroianu, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Surgery, member of the Minas Gerais Academy of Medicine. He received 112 awards and honors and is an editorial board member of 79 journals. He is author of 556 research articles, 25 books, 178 book chapters and over 3500 presentations in Medical and Research Meetings.

Luciene G. Mota

Luciene G. Mota, Pharmacist, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Anatomy and Image, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. She is expert on Radiopharmacy, and develops researches in Nuclear Medicine field, mainly in scintigraphy of gastric emptying and intestinal transit of solid foods.

Simone O. A. Fernandes

Simone O. A. Fernandes, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. She has conducted researches on experimental models related to diabetes and mucositis, inflammation/infection, radiolabelled antibiotics and bacterial translocation. She also has experience in Radiopharmacy, mainly on development of new radiopharmaceutical drugs.

Jony M. Geraldo

Jony M. Geraldo, MSc, is a medical physicist at the Luxemburgo Hospital, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Clara B. Nascimento

Clara B. Nascimento, BSc, is a medical physicist at the Luxemburgo Hospital, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Katia D. Vital

Katia Duarte Vital, MSc, is a specialist in diagnostic imaging and a doctoral student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.