X rays induced oxidative stress in cerebral tissue of albino wistar rats

Radiotherapy has been increasingly used as an effective tool in the treatment of cancer. Radiations might produce toxic effects to the surrounding normal cells mediated by free radicals. The study of normal tissue response to x rays is of great importance in cancer patients who undergo radiotherapy. Brain is the logical target of free radical injury due to high lipid content and low antioxidants. Hence, this study was undertaken to study the toxic effects of radiation on brain. Albino rats exposed to whole body radiation of 6 Gy per minute formed test group and rats that were not irradiated formed control group. Each group had eight animals. Malondialdehyde, SOD, catalase, glutathione and acetyl choline esterase were estimated in brain homogenates by spectrophotometric methods. Brain antioxidant enzymes viz., SOD and catalase decreased significantly in rats exposed to radiations compared to normal rats. Acetyl cholinesterase a marker of low grade inflammation increased significantly in x ray treated rats. The increase in lipid peroxidation was also statistically significant in these rats compared to control group. On the whole, it can be concluded that free radical toxicity may be one of the major factors contributing to radiation pathology in rats.