Oxytocin: A Shield against Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Rats
Background: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI), a serious side effect of thoracic radiotherapy, can lead to acute radiation pneumonitis (RP) and chronic pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Despite various interventions, no effective protocol exists to prevent pneumonitis. Oxytocin (OT), known for its anti-in...
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MDPI AG
2024-08-01
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| author | Ahmet Kayalı Duygu Burcu Arda Ejder Saylav Bora Yiğit Uyanikgil Özüm Atasoy Oytun Erbaş |
| author_facet | Ahmet Kayalı Duygu Burcu Arda Ejder Saylav Bora Yiğit Uyanikgil Özüm Atasoy Oytun Erbaş |
| author_sort | Ahmet Kayalı |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI), a serious side effect of thoracic radiotherapy, can lead to acute radiation pneumonitis (RP) and chronic pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Despite various interventions, no effective protocol exists to prevent pneumonitis. Oxytocin (OT), known for its anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antioxidant properties, has not been explored for its potential in mitigating RILI. Materials and Methods: This study involved 24 female Wistar albino rats, divided into three groups: control group, radiation (RAD) + saline, and RAD + OT. The RAD groups received 18 Gy of whole-thorax irradiation. The RAD + OT group was treated with OT (0.1 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally for 16 weeks. Computerizing tomography (CT) imaging and histopathological, biochemical, and blood gas analyses were performed to assess lung tissue damage and inflammation. Results: Histopathological examination showed significant reduction in alveolar wall thickening, inflammation, and vascular changes in the RAD + OT group compared to the RAD + saline group. Biochemical analysis revealed decreased levels of TGF-beta, VEGF, and PDGF, and increased BMP-7 and prostacyclin in the RAD + oxytocin group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Morphometric analysis indicated significant reductions in fibrosis, edema, and immune cell infiltration. CT imaging demonstrated near-normal lung parenchyma density in the RAD + oxytocin group (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusion: Oxytocin administration significantly mitigates radiation-induced pneumonitis in rats, implying that is has potential as a therapeutic agent for preventing and treating RILI. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-839d2e010d47449cb569186695b5ca8c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2379-1381 2379-139X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tomography |
| spelling | doaj-art-839d2e010d47449cb569186695b5ca8c2025-08-20T01:55:53ZengMDPI AGTomography2379-13812379-139X2024-08-011091342135310.3390/tomography10090101Oxytocin: A Shield against Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in RatsAhmet Kayalı0Duygu Burcu Arda1Ejder Saylav Bora2Yiğit Uyanikgil3Özüm Atasoy4Oytun Erbaş5Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Katip Çelebi University, 35620 Izmir, TürkiyeDepartment of Pediatrics, Istanbul Taksim Research and Training Hospital, 34433 Istanbul, TürkiyeDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Katip Çelebi University, 35620 Izmir, TürkiyeDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, 35030 Izmir, TürkiyeDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Giresun Training and Research Hospital, 28100 Giresun, TürkiyeDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Demiroğlu Bilim University, 34394 Istanbul, TürkiyeBackground: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI), a serious side effect of thoracic radiotherapy, can lead to acute radiation pneumonitis (RP) and chronic pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Despite various interventions, no effective protocol exists to prevent pneumonitis. Oxytocin (OT), known for its anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antioxidant properties, has not been explored for its potential in mitigating RILI. Materials and Methods: This study involved 24 female Wistar albino rats, divided into three groups: control group, radiation (RAD) + saline, and RAD + OT. The RAD groups received 18 Gy of whole-thorax irradiation. The RAD + OT group was treated with OT (0.1 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally for 16 weeks. Computerizing tomography (CT) imaging and histopathological, biochemical, and blood gas analyses were performed to assess lung tissue damage and inflammation. Results: Histopathological examination showed significant reduction in alveolar wall thickening, inflammation, and vascular changes in the RAD + OT group compared to the RAD + saline group. Biochemical analysis revealed decreased levels of TGF-beta, VEGF, and PDGF, and increased BMP-7 and prostacyclin in the RAD + oxytocin group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Morphometric analysis indicated significant reductions in fibrosis, edema, and immune cell infiltration. CT imaging demonstrated near-normal lung parenchyma density in the RAD + oxytocin group (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusion: Oxytocin administration significantly mitigates radiation-induced pneumonitis in rats, implying that is has potential as a therapeutic agent for preventing and treating RILI.https://www.mdpi.com/2379-139X/10/9/101radiation pneumonitisoxytocinradiotherapyinflammation |
| spellingShingle | Ahmet Kayalı Duygu Burcu Arda Ejder Saylav Bora Yiğit Uyanikgil Özüm Atasoy Oytun Erbaş Oxytocin: A Shield against Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Rats Tomography radiation pneumonitis oxytocin radiotherapy inflammation |
| title | Oxytocin: A Shield against Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Rats |
| title_full | Oxytocin: A Shield against Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Rats |
| title_fullStr | Oxytocin: A Shield against Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Oxytocin: A Shield against Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Rats |
| title_short | Oxytocin: A Shield against Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Rats |
| title_sort | oxytocin a shield against radiation induced lung injury in rats |
| topic | radiation pneumonitis oxytocin radiotherapy inflammation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2379-139X/10/9/101 |
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