The Effects of Glutamine Administered Before Abdominal Radiation on the Damage of Liver

Authors: Şehnaz BOLKENT, Refiye YANARDAĞ, Ahmet KİZİR, Nejat SAVCI, Nazmi OĞUZ

Abstract: Liver morphology of rats irradiated with a single dose of 1000 cGy by Co60 - g radiation after the administration of 0.3 g/kg/day of glutamine for seven days and of those which were only irradiated, together with their controls, were investigated with light and electron microscopes. In addition, the amounts of glutathione in the blood, and AST, ALT, ALP, LDH and total protein in serum were determined spectrophotometrically. Hyperemia, cytoplasmic vacuolization, picnotic nuclei, excess glycogen and lipid deposits, swelling in granular endoplasmic reticulum, increase and groupings in smooth endoplasmic reticulum were observed in the first group which was only irradiated. In the second group, which received glutamine and also irradiation, these degenerative morphological changes decreased and close or almost the same structures as the controls were observed. Besides, in the group, which only received radiation, a reduction of blood glutathione value, and increase in serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH and total protein values were determined. In the group, which received glutamine and also radiation, increase in the blood glutathione, and a decrease in serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH and in total protein values were observed. From morphological and biochemical results obtained, it is concluded that glutamine administered orally exerts a radioprotective effect against radiation damage.

Keywords: Radiation, Glutamine, Liver