Background: Radiation generates a variety of free radicals during the exposure of biological tissues through radiolysis of water. These free radicals are highly reactive and cause oxidative damage to biological molecules. The present study was carried out to investigate the synergestic effect of danazol and radiation exposure on certain functional disorders in female rats.
Material and methods: Mature female rats weighing about 120-150g were divided into four groups. Group 1: control animals, group 2: animals orally administrated with danazol at a daily dose of 1.8 mg/100 g b.wt/day for four weeks., group 3: animals exposed to whole body gamma irradiation (5 Gy), group 4: animals orally administrated with danazol two weeks before and two weeks after irradiation.
Results : Blood and liver samples were obtained two week post irradiation. Erythrocyte counts, haemoglobin concentration (Hb), hamatocrite percentage (Ht) and leucoyte counts (WBc,s) were determined in blood. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), glucose as well as gamma glutamyle transferase (-GT), transmaminase aspartat (AST), alanine (ALT) and estradiol serum hormone level were assessed. Peroxidative hepatic damage was investigated by assessing thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and total protein content in liver tissues. The data obtained revealed that exposure of rats to gamma radiation and / or danazol treatment or dual treatment caused a significant increase in ALT, AST, glucose, -GT, TC, TG, LDL-c and liver TABRS. While a significant decrease were recorded in RBc,s Hb, Wbc,s and HT.
On the other hand, serum HDL, estradiol and liver total protein in group treated with danazol declined compared to control group.
Conclusion: The results are of great importance from the stand point of radiation protection and drug safety.