J Korean Med Sci.  2005 Aug;20(4):535-541. 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.4.535.

Differential Effect of gamma-radiation-induced Heme Oxygenase-1 Activity in Female and Male C57BL/6 Mice

• Han Y
• Platonov A
• Akhalaia M
• Yun YS
• Song JY

• KMID: 1712729
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2005.20.4.535

Abstract

Ionizing radiation produces reactive oxygen species, which exert diverse biological effects on cells and animals. We investigated alterations of heme oxygenase (HO) and non-protein thiols (NPSH), which are known as two major anti-oxidant enzymes, in female and male C57BL/6 mice in the lung, liver, and brain after whole-body gamma-irradiation with 10 Gy (1-7 days) as well as in the lung after whole-thorax gamma-irradiation (WTI) with 12.5 Gy (1-26 weeks). Most significant alteration of HO activity was observed in the liver, which elevated 250% in males. NPSH level in female liver was increased on the 5th-7th days but decreased in males on the 3rd day. In the lung, the elevation of HO activity in both sexes and the pattern of NPSH change were similar to that of the liver. On the other hand, the increase of HO activity on the 16th week and the decrease of NPSH level on the 2nd week were observed only in male lung after WTI. This study shows that the liver is the most sensitive tissue to gamma-irradiation-induced alterations of HO activity in both female and male mice. In addition, there exists significant differential effect of gamma-irradiation on anti-oxidant system in female and male mice.

Keyword

Key Words; Heme Oxygenase; Non-Protein Thiols; Antioxidants; Liver; Lung; Brain; Mice; Gamma rays

MeSH Terms

Animals
Brain/*enzymology/metabolism/radiation effects
Comparative Study
Female
Gamma Rays
Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/radiation effects
Liver/*enzymology/metabolism/radiation effects
Lung/*enzymology/metabolism/radiation effects
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sex Factors
Sulfhydryl Compounds/metabolism
Time Factors
Whole-Body Irradiation

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 HO activity (A) and NPSH level (B) in the lung, liver, and brain of control female and male C57BL/6 mice. Sixteen mice were used in each group. All data are shown as means±SEM. *p<0.05 compared to female mice.

• 

  Fig. 2 HO activity in the brain, lung and liver of female (A) and male (B) C57BL/6 mice after whole-body irradiation with 10 Gy. Each time point test group was compared with own control group. Four mice were used in each test and corresponding control group. All data are shown as means±SEM. *p<0.05, †p<0.01, ‡p<0.001 compared to corresponding control group.

• 

  Fig. 3 HO-1 mRNA expression levels in the liver of female C57BL/6 mice after whole-body irradiation with 10 Gy. (A) The purified total RNA was converted to cDNA and amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The amplified RT-PCR product was visualized on 1% agarose gel. (B) The band density was quantified in comparison to the β-actin mRNA expression using image analyzer. Four mice were used in each test and control group. All data are shown as means±SEM. *p<0.05, †p<0.01 compared to control group.

• 

  Fig. 4 NPSH contents in the brain, lung and liver of female (A) and male (B) C57BL/6 mice after whole-body irradiation with 10 Gy. Each time point test group was compared with own control group. Four mice were used in each test and corresponding control group. All data are shown as means±SEM. *p<0.05, †p<0.01 compared to corresponding control group.

• 

  Fig. 5 HO activity (A, B) and NPSH content (C, D) in the lung of female (A, C) and male (B, D) C57BL/6 mice after whole-thorax irradiation with 12.5 Gy. Each time point test group was compared with own control group. Four mice were used in each test and corresponding control group. All data are shown as means±SEM. *p<0.05 compared to corresponding control group.

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