PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF β-CAROTENE ON RAT WITH ACUTE RADIATION DAMAGE

Objective To study the protection of β-carotene(β-C) on rat with acute radiation damage. Methods Forty female SD rats were randomized to four groups: normal control group(A),positive control groups(B),5 mg/(kg·d) β-C group(C) and 10 mg/(kg·d) β-C group(D).Before radiation,5 mg/(kg·d) of β-C was given to rats in group C,10 mg/(kg·d) of β-C to those in group D,and same volume of peanut oil was given to those in groups A and B.The intragastric administration lasted for 14 days.On 14th day,a single abdominal radiation of 9 Gy was offered to all the rats,except those in group A.The rats were sacrificed four days later,plasma superoxide dismutases(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA),and glutathion peroxidase(GSH-PX) were detected and damage of DNA was checked using single cell gel electrophoresis technique. Results Compared with group B,the contents of MDA in groups C and D were significantly lower(F=5.23;q=4.20,2.80;P0.05);the activity of GSH-PX in group D was higher than that of group B(F=3.70;q=5.11;P0.05).The damage of DNA in group B was the most severe compared with the other three groups(F=105.06;q=19.85-21.53;P0.05). Conclusion Supplement of a certain dose of β-C will have a better protection on lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage of DNA induced by radiation injury of the abdomen.