Effect of kojic acid on immune systems of mice damaged by gamma-irradiation

Objective To evaluate the effect of kojic acid( KA) on the immune system of mice after exposure to gamma-irradiation. Methods Twenty male C57 BL /6 mice were divided into normal group,irradiation group,low /high doses of KA pretreated groups. Mice in normal group did not receive any treatment,while mice in other groups were sc injected with a single dose of sterile distilled water or KA( 75 and 300 mg /kg,respectively) 27 h prior to a sublethal dose( 4 Gy,138. 54 and 140. 30 cGy /min,respectively) of whole body gamma-irradiation. The injected volume was calculated by 0. 2ml /20 g. Forty mice were sacrificed at day 2 and day 8 post-irradiation,respectively. The splenic lymphocyte transformation and spleen and thymus indexes were determined. Histopathological sections were produced,and the morphological changes were also observed. Results The splenic lymphocyte transformation capacity and spleen and thymus indexes of mice pretreated with 300 mg /kg elatve mass KA were increased significantly( P 0. 01) compared with the irradiation group. The morphological changes in the spleen and thymus of mice in 300 mg /kg KA pretreated group were better than in the irradiation group. The above parameters of mice in irradiation group were injured severely in comparison with the normal group.Conclusion Acute radiation can damage the immune system of mice obviously. KA can enhance the transformation capacity of lymphocytes and has marked protective effect on the immune system of mice after irradiation.