Vitamin E Protects against the Development of Radiation-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats

Bese, N.S.; Munzuroglu, F.; Uslu, B.; Arbak, S.; Yesiladali, G.; Sut, N.; Altug, T.; Ober, A.

doi:10.1016/j.clon.2006.12.007

« Previous Next »Clinical Oncology
Volume 19, Issue 4 , Pages 260-264, May 2007

Vitamin E Protects against the Development of Radiation-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats

N.S. Bese
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, 34098 Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
- Author for correspondence: Nuran Senel Bese, Tutuncu Mehmet Efendi Caddesi, Dr Rifat Pasa Sok, Goztepe Konutlari 19/2 Goztepe 34730, Istanbul, Turkey. Tel: +90-212-414-30-98; Fax: +90-212-414-31-01
F. Munzuroglu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, 34098 Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
B. Uslu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
S. Arbak
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
G. Yesiladali
- Cerrahpasa Medical School, 34098 Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
N. Sut
- Department of Biostatistics, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, 34098 Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
T. Altug
- Department of Experimental Animal Breeding and Research Laboratory, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, 34098 Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
A. Ober
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, 34098 Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey

Received 17 July 2006; received in revised form 1 December 2006; accepted 11 December 2006.

Abstract

Aims

To investigate whether the application of vitamin E with or without pentoxifylline could modify the development of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Materials and methods

Wistar albino rats were supplemented with either vitamin E or pentoxifylline or with both vitamin E and pentoxifylline after a single dose of 14Gy thoracic irradiation. Supplementation was started the day after irradiation and continued until the rats were sacrificed. As a quantitative end point, the extent of fibrosis was evaluated with a scale from 0 (normal lung) to 8 (total fibrous obliteration of the field) at pathological examination of the lung tissue.

Results

A significant reduction in fibrosis was obtained in the group of rats supplemented with vitamin E with or without pentoxifylline, when compared with the group that had irradiation only.

Conclusion

This experimental study showed that vitamin E supplementation immediately after irradiation protected rats against radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis. The combination with pentoxifylline was more effective, although pentoxifylline itself had limited efficacy, which was not statistically significant.

Key words: α-Tocopherol, pentoxifylline, pulmonary fibrosis, radiation, vitamin E