Sathasiva B. Kandasamy

Reductions of 56Fe Heavy-Particle Irradiation-Induced Deficits in Striatal Muscarinic Receptor Sensitivity by Selective Cross-Activation/Inhibition of Second-Messenger Systems

Recent experiments have revealed radiation-induced (600 MeV/u 56Fe energetic particles) losses of sensitivity of rodent neostriatal muscarinic receptors to stimulation by cholinergic agonists that appears as reductions in oxotremorine enhancement of K(+)-evoked dopamine release. These losses were postulated to be the result of radiation-induced alterations early in phosphoinositide-mediated signal transduction. Additional findings indicated that if the ligand-receptor-G protein interface was by passed no radiation deficits were seen. In the present study, radiation-induced deficits in K(+)-evoked dopamine release were examined in perifused striatal tissue obtained from rats exposed to 0, 0.1 or 1.0 Gy of 56Fe particles (600 MeV/u). Results showed that these deficits could be reduced by co-applying combinations of various pharmacological agents that were known to have differential effects on various second messengers such as 1,4,5-inositol-trisphosphate (IP3). Combinations included oxotremorine-carbachol, and either oxotremorine or carbachol with arginine vasopressin or arachidonic acid. These results are discussed in terms of putative radiation-induced changes in receptor-containing membranes which alter receptor-G protein coupling/uncoupling.

Involvement of Prostaglandins and Histamine in Radiation-Induced Temperature Responses in Rats

Exposure of rats to 1-15 Gy of gamma radiation induced hyperthermia, whereas exposure to 20-150 Gy produced hypothermia. Since radiation exposure induced the release of prostaglandins (PGs) and histamine, the role of PGs and histamine in radiation-induced temperature changes was examined. Radiation-induced hyper- and hypothermia were antagonized by pretreatment with indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Intracerebroventricular administration of PGE2 and PGD2 induced hyper- and hypothermia, respectively. Administration of SC-19220, a specific PGE2 antagonist, attenuated PGE2- and radiation-induced hyperthermia, but it did not antagonize PGD2- or radiation-induced hypothermia. Consistent with an apparent role of histamine in hypothermia, administration of disodium cromoglycate (a mast cell stabilizer), mepyramine (H1-receptor antagonist), or cimetidine (H2-receptor antagonist) attenuated PGD2- and radiation-induced hypothermia. These results suggest that radiation-induced hyperthermia is mediated via PGE2 and that radiation-induced hypothermia is mediated by another PG, possibly PGD2, via histamine.

Relationship between Linear Energy Transfer and Behavioral Toxicity in Rats Following Exposure to Protons and Heavy Particles

Rats were exposed to protons (155 MeV) or to helium (165 MeV/amu), neon (522 MeV/amu) or argon (670 MeV/amu) particles to evaluate the behavioral toxicity of these types of radiations. Behavioral toxicity was assessed using the conditioned taste aversion paradigm. Exposure to all types of radiation produced dose-dependent increases in the intensity of the acquired taste aversion. However, the intensity of the aversions, measured as the dose that produced a 50% decrease in the intake of the sucrose-conditioned stimulus, did not show significant variation as a function of the linear energy transfer (LET) of the radiation. The results are discussed in terms of the relationship between LET and behavioral toxicity.

Iron-56 irradiation diminishes muscarinic but not {alpha}{sub 1}-adrenergic-stimulated low-K{sub m} GTPase in rat brain

Initial findings from our laboratory have indicated that muscarinic enhancement of K{sup +}-evoked release of dopamine from perifused striatal slices is reduced after exposure to {sup 56}Fe-particle irradiation. This finding suggested that there is a radiation-induced deficit in muscarinic receptor sensitivity. Subsequent findings have indicated that at least part of the loss in sensitivity may occur as a result of alterations in the initial steps of the signal transduction process and involve muscarinic receptor-G protein coupling/uncoupling. The present study was carried out to localize this deficit further by determining carbachol-stimulated low-K{sub m} guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activity in striatal and hippocampal tissue obtained from rats exposed to 0, 0.1 or 1.0 Gy of {sup 56}Fe-particle irradiation. In addition, to examine the specificity of the effect of {sup 56}Fe-particle irradiation, {alpha}{sub 1}-adrenergic-stimulated low-K{sub m} GTPase activity was also examined in these tissues. The results showed that there was a high degree of specificity in the effects of {sup 56}Fe particles. Decrements were observed in muscarinic-stimulated low-K{sub m} GTPase in striatum but not in hippocampus, and {sup 56}Fe-particle irradiation did not affect {alpha}{sub 1}-adrenergic low-K{sub m} GTPase activity in either brain tissue. 24 refs., 2 figs.

Behavioral endpoints for radiation injury

The relative behavioral effectiveness of heavy particles was evaluated. Using the taste aversion paradigm in rats, the behavioral toxicity of most types of radiation (including 20Ne and 40Ar) was similar to that of 60Co photons. Only 56Fe and 93Nb particles and fission neutrons were significantly more effective. Using emesis in ferrets as the behavioral endpoint, 56Fe particles and neutrons were again the most effective; however, 60Co photons were significantly more effective than 18 MeV electrons. These results suggest that LET does not completely predict behavioral effectiveness. Additionally, exposing rats to 10 cGy of 56Fe particles attenuated amphetamine-induced taste aversion learning. This behavior is one of a broad class of behaviors which depends on the integrity of the dopaminergic system and suggests the possibility of alterations in these behaviors following exposure to heavy particles in a space radiation environment.

Implication of prostaglandins and histamine H1 and H2 receptors in radiation-induced temperature responses of rats.

Exposure of rats to 1-15 Gy gamma radiation (60Co) induced hyperthermia, whereas 20-200 Gy induced hypothermia. Exposure either to the head or to the whole body to 10 Gy induced hyperthermia, while body-only exposure produced hypothermia. This observation indicates that radiation-induced fever is a result of a direct effect on the brain. The hyperthermia due to 10 Gy was significantly attenuated by the pre- or post-treatment with a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin. Hyperthermia was also altered by the central administration of a mu-receptor antagonist naloxone but only at low doses of radiation. These findings suggest that radiation-induced hyperthermia may be mediated through the synthesis and release of prostaglandins in the brain and to a lesser extent to the release of endogenous opioid peptides. The release of histamine acting on H1 and H2 receptors may be involved in radiation-induced hypothermia, since both the H1 receptor antagonist, mepyramine, and H2 receptor antagonist, cimetidine, antagonized the hypothermia. The results of these studies suggest that the release of neurohumoral substances induced by exposure to ionizing radiation is dose dependent and has different consequences on physiological processes such as the regulation of body temperature. Furthermore, the antagonism of radiation-induced hyperthermia by indomethacin may have potential therapeutic implications in the treatment of fever resulting from accidental irradiations.

Reductions in calcium uptake induced in rat brain synaptosomes by ionizing radiation

Gamma irradiation (60Co) reduced KCl-stimulated voltage-dependent 45Ca2+ uptake in whole-brain, cortical, and striatal synaptosomes. The time course (3, 10, 30, and 60 s) of calcium uptake by irradiated (3 Gy) and nonirradiated synaptosomes, as well as the effect of KCl (15-65 mM), was measured in whole-brain synaptosomes. The fastest and highest rate of depolarization-dependent calcium uptake occurred at 3 s with 65 mM KCl. Irradiation reduced calcium uptake at all incubation times and KCl concentrations. Bay K 8644 enhancement of KCl-stimulated calcium influx was also reduced by radiation exposure. Nimodipine binding to dihydropyridine (DHP) L-type calcium channel receptors was not altered following radiation exposure. These results demonstrate an inhibitory effect of ionizing radiation on the voltage-sensitive calcium channels in rat brain synaptosomes that are not mediated by DHP receptors.

Effect of chloral hydrate on in vivo KCl-induced striatal dopamine release in the rat

The release of striatal dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in response to locally-induced K+ depolarization was investigated in vivo in chloral hydrate-anesthetized and freely moving rats. KCl at concentrations of 30, 50, and 100 mM induced significant dose-dependent increases in extracellular DA overflow in both chloral hydrate-anesthetized and freely moving rats (P<0.05). Extracellular levels of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were decreased. The DA overflow in response to 30 mM KCl stimulation in anesthetized rats was significantly greater than that in freely moving rats (P<0.05). In addition, chloral hydrate anesthesia resulted in a significant decrease in extracellular levels of DOPAC and significant increases in extracellular levels of HVA and 5-HIAA in comparison with freely moving rats (P<0.05). Furthermore, the basal level of extracellular HVA in chloral hydrateanesthetized rats was significantly higher than that in freely moving rats. These results suggest that chloral hydrate anesthesia could have significant effects on the pharmacological response of the striatal dopaminergic neurons.

Possible involvement of prostaglandins in increases in rat plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone levels induced by radiation and interleukin-1α alone or combined

Exposing rats to 1-10 Gy of ionizing radiation increased plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) levels. In both irradiated and nonirradiated rats, recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha (rhIL-1 alpha; 1 hr before radiation/sham exposure) enhanced plasma ACTH and CORT levels. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, attenuated plasma ACTH and CORT levels induced by radiation. Indomethacin also attenuated ACTH and CORT levels induced by radiation and interleukin-1 alpha alone or combined. These results suggest that prostaglandins are involved in the increase in plasma ACTH and CORT levels induced by radiation and rhIL-1 alpha alone or combined.

Involvement of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in attenuation of radiation-induced hyperthermia by interleukin-1α in rats

Pretreatment with recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha (rhIL-1 alpha) 20 h before irradiation attenuates radiation-induced hyperthermia. Experiments were conducted to determine the role of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) in rhIL-1 alpha-induced attenuation of radiation-induced hyperthermia. Radiation exposure increased SOD and decreased GSHPx levels in the hypothalamus, while treatment with rhIL-1 alpha increased GSHPx levels and had no effect on SOD levels. However, rhIL-1 alpha and irradiation together increased hypothalamic SOD level but prevented the fall in GSHPx level. Our results suggest that attenuation of radiation-induced hyperthermia by rhIL-1 alpha may involve stimulation of SOD and GSHPx because rhIL-1 alpha treatment and irradiation together increased hypothalamic GSHPx and SOD levels, and intracerebroventricular administration of SOD and GSHPx attenuated the radiation-induced hyperthermia.