Effect of the acute total gamma radiation in a sublethal dose on the biophysical properties of red blood cells, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant supply and hemocoagulating properties of erythrocytes

Abstract

The aim of the investigation was to study the effect of acute, total gamma-irradiation in a sublethal dose on the biophysical properties of erythrocytes, the intensity of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant supply and hemocoagulating properties of erythrocytes. The experiments were carried out on 11-12-week-old age guinea pigs, males and females in equal numbers. The animals were ex- posed to a single total radiation at a dose of 4.5 Gy (sublethal dose, LD 50/30). The studies were carried out on the 7th day after exposure to radiation (at the height of radiation sickness). The development of radiation damage was accompanied by in- tense erythropoiesis and the appearance of erythrocytes with a high resistance to hemolysis and an increased sedimentation rate. After acute gamma irradiation, depletion of the antioxidant system was noted. It manifested in a decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase of erythrocytes by 19.7% (p<0.01) and the con- centration of serum ceruloplasmin by 21.5% (p<0.01). The content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and their accumulation while the incubation of erythrocytes remained within the normal range. The erythrocytes of the irradiated animals exhibited increased procoagulant and decreased antiheparin activity, which reflects conformational changes in highly radiosensitive fatty acid chains of phospholipids in their membranes. A decrease in the fibrinolytic activity of erythrocytes in irradiated animals was found.