Radioprotective activity of glutathione on cognitive ability in X-ray radiated tumor-bearing mice

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The use of X-ray for therapeutics always raises the problem of radiation hazards to living beings. In this research, we explored the radioprotective activity of glutathione (GSH) on cognitive ability of X-ray radiated tumor-bearing mice.Methods: Forty C57BL/6 mice were chosen to establish the GL261 glioma model and randomly divided into four groups: Model group, X-ray group, Pre-GSH group and Pos-GSH group. Morris water maze test was used to test cognitive ability. Moreover, histopathological observation of hippocampus was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The protein expression of choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) was measured by western blot, simultaneously the contents of acetylcholinesterase (Ach), superoxide dismutase (SOD), methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA),TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by the respective kit.Results: There was a significant difference in X-ray group of the escape latency from the Model group (P<0.05). Besides, HE staining revealed that nucleus in hippocampus cells were pyknotic, glial cells were hyperplastic and the nerve cells were swelling in X-ray group. In X-ray group the expression of ChAT and Ache were decreased versus Model group. Finally, the cognitive ability in Pre-GSH and Pos-GSH group was enhanced than X-ray group, in which the cognitive ability of Pos-GSH group was higher than the Pre-GSH group.Discussion: X-ray impaired the brain tissues and cognitive ability of tumor-bearing mice. The damages of brain tissues were alleviated by Pre-GSH and Pos-GSH protection and the efficacy of Pos-GSH protection was superior to Pre-GSH protection.

Abbreviation Ach: Acetylcholinesterase; GSH: Glutathione; HE: Hematoxylin and eosin; MDA: methane dicarboxylic aldehyde; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; TV: Tumor volume; TW: Tumor weight.

KEYWORDS:

• Cognitive ability
• X-ray
• glutathione
• tumor-bearing mice
• radioprotective activity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Northwest University for Nationalities [No: 31920150016] and funded under the Youth Foundation of Gansu Province [grant number: 1506RJYA275].

Notes on contributors

Lina Lu

Lina Lu 1983.12, graduated from Yantai University, majored in pharmaceutical chemistry in 2009, now worked at Northwest University for Nationalities, majoring in pharmaceutical engineering. Currently studying for a Ph.D. at Lanzhou University of Nuclear Science and Technology, she majored in radiochemistry, and her main research direction is radiation protection of drugs. The first author published 3 sci papers and 2 cscd papers. She presided over 1 special fund for basic scientific research operations at central universities and 1 project for Gansu Youth Science and Technology Fund, and also participated in a number of project studies.

Zongli Li

Zongli Li after graduating from university, I engaged in pharmaceutical preparations, pharmaceutical preparations, testing, and clinical pharmacy work. I currently work in the Pharmaceutical Adjustment Division of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University and work as a deputy chief pharmacist. She is engaged in pharmacy management, rational drug counseling, and case review work. There is a certain degree of rational drug use for drugs.

Yanhua Zuo

Yanhua Zuo 1983.12, graduated from Yantai University, majored in pharmaceutical chemistry in 2009, now worked at Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, majoring in hospital pharmacy since 2009. Her main research direction is data analyze of clinical pharmacy.

Libo Zhao

Libo Zhao graduated from Lanzhou University, is currently studying for a master's degree at the Lanzhou University School of Stomatology. The research direction is the influence of porcelain-fused metal crowns on the development of zebrafish embryos and larvae.

Bin Liu

Bin Liu 1967.05, Professor, Dean of School of Stomatology, Lanzhou University, Ph.D. Supervisor of School of Nuclear Scienceand Technology, Majoring in radiation biological protection; Published more than 30 papers of sci; Hosted Gansu Natural Science Fund Project, Gansu Province Young and Middleaged Nature Research projects including the Science Foundation Project, the “Light of the Western Region” supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Doctoral Research Fund Project, the National Natural Science Fund Project, etc., Gansu Provincial Young Teacher Achievement Award, Gansu Science and Technology Progress Award, Gansu Provincial Department of Health Leader and many other rewards.