Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

8 p.

Publication Date

5-2009

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics

Source ISSN

0360-3016

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2009.01.006

Abstract

Purpose

To study vascular injury after whole thoracic irradiation with single sublethal doses of X-rays in the rat and to develop markers that might predict the severity of injury.

Methods and Materials

Rats that received 5- or 10-Gy thorax-only irradiation and age-matched controls were studied at 3 days, 2 weeks, and 1, 2, 5, and 12 months. Several pulmonary vascular parameters were evaluated, including hemodynamics, vessel density, total lung angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, and right ventricular hypertrophy.

Results

By 1 month, the rats in the 10-Gy group had pulmonary vascular dropout, right ventricular hypertrophy, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, increased dry lung weights, and decreases in total lung angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, as well as pulmonary artery distensibility. In contrast, irradiation with 5 Gy resulted in only a modest increase in right ventricular weight and a reduction in lung angiotensin-converting enzyme activity.

Conclusion

In a previous investigation using the same model, we observed that recovery from radiation-induced attenuation of pulmonary vascular reactivity occurred. In the present study, we report that deterioration results in several vascular parameters for ≤1 year after 10 Gy, suggesting sustained remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature. Our data support clinically relevant injuries that appear in a time- and dose-related manner after exposure to relatively low radiation doses.

Comments

Accepted version. International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics, Vol. 74, No. 1 (May 2009): 192–199. DOI. © 2009 Elsevier. Used with permission.

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics, VOL 74, ISSUE 1, May 2009. DOI.

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