Comparative study on the inhibitory effects of antioxidant vitamins and radon on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatopathy

• Published in: Journal of radiation research Vol. 53; no. 6; pp. 830 - 839
• Main Authors: Kataoka, Takahiro, Nishiyama, Yuichi, Yamato, Keiko, Teraoka, Junichi, Morii, Yuji, Sakoda, Akihiro, Ishimori, Yuu, Taguchi, Takehito, Yamaoka, Kiyonori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-11-2012
• Subjects: alpha-Tocopherol - administration & dosage; Analysis; Animals; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Ascorbic acid; Ascorbic Acid - administration & dosage; Biology; Carbon; Carbon tetrachloride; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning - diagnosis; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning - metabolism; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning - prevention & control; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - diagnosis; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - metabolism; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - prevention & control; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Female; Inhalation; Liver; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Organic acids; Radon; Radon - administration & dosage; Reactive Oxygen Species; Superoxides; Tocopherols; Treatment Outcome; Vitamins; Vitamins - administration & dosage; ascorbic acid; antioxidant; hepatopathy; tocopherol; Radon
• ISSN: 0449-3060; 1349-9157
• DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrs057

We have previously reported that radon inhalation activates anti-oxidative functions and inhibits carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatopathy. It has also been reported that antioxidant vitamins can inhibit CCl4-induced hepatopathy. In the current study, we examined the comparative efficacy of treatment with radon, ascorbic acid and -tocopherol on CCl4-induced hepatopathy. Mice were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 after inhaling approximately 1000 or 2000 Bq/m3 radon for 24 h, or immediately after intraperitoneal injection of ascorbic acid (100, 300, or 500 mg/kg bodyweight) or -tocopherol (100, 300, or 500 mg/kg bodyweight). We estimated the inhibitory effects on CCl4-induced hepatopathy based on hepatic function-associated parameters, oxidative damage-associated parameters and histological changes. The results revealed that the therapeutic effects of radon inhalation were almost equivalent to treatment with ascorbic acid at a dose of 500 mg/kg or -tocopherol at a dose of 300 mg/kg. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in the liver were significantly higher in mice exposed to radon than in mice treated with CCl4 alone. These findings suggest that radon inhalation has an anti-oxidative effect against CCl4-induced hepatopathy similar to the anti-oxidative effects of ascorbic acid or -tocopherol due to the induction of anti-oxidative functions.