Urinary Excretion of Cyclic Nucleotides, Creatinine Prostaglandin E₂ and Thromboxane B₂ from Mice Exposed to Whole-body Irradiation from an Enhanced Neutron Field

Summary

Urine volume and excretion of cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), thromboxane B₂ (TxB₂) and creatinine were evaluated as potential indicators of radiation damage in mice given 2–5 Gy to the whole body from an enhanced neutron field. In general, urinary cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP, creatinine and urine volumes were positively correlated across time postexposure, for each radiation dose. TxB₂ levels positively correlated with urine volume and cyclic AMP excretion only in animals given 2·0 Gy. None of these parameters suggests their use as a prognostic indicator of the extent of radiation damage. Urinary excretion of PGE₂ was negatively correlated with other urinary parameters. Biphasic increases in urinary PGE₂ were also observed. The initial transient elevation 2–3 days postexposure was not correlated with the dose (2–5 Gy). The second elevation of PGE₂ excretion occurred at 6–10 days. The magnitude of the latter increase suggests that urinary PGE₂ excretion may be a useful indicator of whole-body or kidney exposure to neutron fields.

• prostaglandin E₂
• thromboxane B₂
• cyclic AMP
• cyclic GMP
• creatinine
• neutrons