Effect of acute 60Co-gamma-irradiation on the in vivo lipid peroxidation in experimental animals.

The effect of sublethal (6.0 Gy) and LD50/30 (9.0 Gy) doses of 60Co-gamma-irradiation on malondialdehyde (MDA) level was studied in rats. The findings suggest that in the organs investigated (brain, liver, spleen, kidney, testicle, stomach, small intestines) acute 60Co-gamma-irradiation increased the formation of MDA, the main product of lipid peroxidation, in a time-related manner to an extent characteristic of the organ investigated. Differences in the degree and temporal development of the changes allow some conclusions as to the radiosensitivity of individual organs. On this basis it can be assumed that the increase in MDA level caused by irradiation considerably contributes to the development of certain symptoms of radiation sickness.