J Korean Soc Ther Radiol Oncol.  2010 Sep;28(3):141-146. 10.3857/jkstro.2010.28.3.141.

Protective Effects of 5-Androstendiol (5-AED) on Radiation-induced Intestinal Injury

• Kim JS
• Lee SS
• Jang WS
• Lee SJ
• Park S
• Cho SY
• Moon C
• Kim SH
• Kim MS

• KMID: 1460146
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3857/jkstro.2010.28.3.141

Abstract

PURPOSE
We examined the radioprotective effects of 5-androstendiol (5-AED), a natural hormone produced in the reticularis of the adrenal cortex, as a result of intestinal damage in gamma-irradiated C3H/HeN mice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty mice (C3H/HeN) were divided into three groups; 1) non-irradiated control group, 2) irradiated group, and 3) 5-AED-treated group prior to irradiation. Next, 5-AED (50 mg/kg per body weight) was subcutaneously injected 24 hours before irradiation. The mice were whole-body irradiated with 10 Gy for the histological examination of jejunal crypt survival and the determination of the villus morphology including crypt depth, crypt size, number of villi, villus height, and length of basal lamina, as well as 5 Gy for the detection of apoptosis.
RESULTS
The 5-AED pre-treated group significantly increased the survival of the jejunal crypt, compared to irradiation controls (p<0.05 vs. irradiation controls at 3.5 days after 10 Gy). The evaluation of morphological changes revealed that the administration of 5-AED reduced the radiation-induced intestinal damages such as villus shortening and increased length of the basal lamina of enterocytes (p<0.05 vs irradiation controls on 3.5 day after 10 Gy, respectively). The administration of 5-AED decreased the radiation-induced apoptosis in the intestinal crypt, with no significant difference between the vehicle and 5-AED at 12 hours after 5 Gy.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that the administration of 5-AED has a protective effect on intestinal damage induced by gamma-irradiation. In turn, these results suggest that 5-AED could be a useful candidate for radioprotection against intestinal mucosal injury following irradiation.

Keyword

5-Androstenediol; Radiation; Intestinal crypt; Intestinal injury

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex
Animals
Apoptosis
Basement Membrane
Enterocytes
Mice