Protective effects of catalase pretreatment on lipid peroxidation induced by whole-body gamma-irradiation in rats

Abstract

In this study, we examined the protective effects of catalase pretreatment on irradiation-induced lipid peroxidation. Male albino rats were exposed to whole-body gamma-irradiation (total dose of 5Gy in one exposure which is toxic for rats). In the first experimental group, rats (n:12) were only exposed to radiation, in the second experimental group (n:12), catalase (150.000 IU/kg) was administered to rats before irradiation. The rats in the third experimental group (n:12) were pretreated with catalase before the sham-exposure. As control group, sham-irradiated rats (n:12) were used. The initial plasma malondialdehyde levels of irradiated, catalase pretreated plus irradiated, catalase pretreated plus sham-exposed groups did not significantly differ from that of sham-irradiated rats. On 10th day after the sham-exposure, sham-irradiated controls and catalase pretreated plus sham-exposed animals showed similar levels of this biochemical parameter. The latter plasma malondialdehyde level of sham-irradiated rats was 8.6 ± 1.8 nmol/ml and the latter value of irradiated animals was 30.9 ± 7.2 nmol/ml. These results showed that plasma malondialdehyde levels of irradiated rats were significantly higher than those of sham-irradiated controls (p