Effect of l-Thyroxine on Micronuclei Frequency in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes in Clinical and Experimental Conditions.

The aim was to study the genotoxic effect of high concentration of thyroxine (T4) in vivo in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of the patients suffering from thyroid disorders. The effect was compared by performing in vitro experiments with addition of increasing concentration of T4 (0.125-1 µM) in whole blood samples from healthy donors. Cytokinesis-blocked micronuclei (CBMN) assay method was used to assess the DNA damage in the PBL. The study included 104 patients which were grouped as control (n = 49), hyperthyroid (n = 31) and hypothyroid (n = 24). A significant increase in micronuclei (MN) frequency was observed in hyperthyroid patients when compared with the hypothyroid and euthyroid group thereby suggesting increased genotoxicity in hyperthyroidism (p < 0.001). A significant increase in MN frequency was observed at T4 concentration of 0.5 µM and above when compared to lower T4 concentrations (0.125 and 0.25 µM) and basal in in vitro experiments (p = 0.000). The results indicate that the T4 in normal concentration does not exhibit the genotoxic effect, as observed in both the in vivo and in vitro experiments. The toxicity of T4 increases at and above 0.5 µM concentration in vitro. Therefore acute T4 overdose should be handled promptly and effectively so as to avoid the possible genotoxic effect of high concentration of T4 in vivo.

Radioprotective effect of Ocimum sanctum and amifostine on the salivary gland of rats after therapeutic radioiodine exposure.

The current study investigated the radioprotective effect of Ocimum sanctum on the salivary gland of rats administered radioiodine ((131)I) and compared its efficacy with a known radioprotectant, amifostine. The experimental rats were divided in four groups and sacrificed in three different batches at 1, 3, and 6 months of time interval after 18.5 MBq/100g (i.p.) (131)I exposure. Six months duration batch received (131)I exposure twice with the gap of 3 months. Two groups of experimental rats were presupplemented with O. sanctum (40 mg/kg for 5 days, orally) and amifostine (200 mg/kg, s.c) before (131)I exposure separately. Increased Technetium-99m-pertechnetate ((99m)TcO(4)(-)) uptake at 30 minutes post injection in salivary glands of only (131)I exposed rats may imply delay in clearance at 6 months of exposure in comparison to their counterparts sacrificed at 1 month. Parotid gland histology showed atrophy with lipomatosis in only (131)I exposed rats at 3 and 6 months of duration. O. sanctum and amifostine presupplemented and subsequently exposed to (131)I rats at 3 and 6 months duration exhibited comparable histopathology with controls. Our study indicates possible radioprotective effect of O. sanctum and amifostine against high-dose (131)I exposure.

Effect of Ocimum sanctum, turmeric extract and vitamin E supplementation on the salivary gland and bone marrow of radioiodine exposed mice.

Significant increase in the salivary gland weight was observed after exposure to single therapeutic dose of 3.7 MBq of 131I in mice. Pre-supplementation of antioxidants, O. sanctum leaf extract, turmeric extract and vitamin E for 15 days before 131I exposure demonstrated significant reduction in the salivary gland weight. No major histopathological changes were observed in the salivary gland of experimental animals at 24 h of exposure. Micronuclei index in the bone marrow of polychromatic (PCEs) and normochromatic erythrocytes (NCEs) remained unchanged in all the experimental groups. However, PCE/NCE ratio in the bone marrow decreased significantly in all the 131I exposed animals irrespective of antioxidant supplementation status. The normalization of salivary gland weight by antioxidant pre-supplementation in radioiodine exposed mice is suggestive of the possible ameliorating effect of antioxidants on the salivary gland weight recommending further detailed studies regarding the functional aspect of the salivary gland in higher animals.

Micronuclei frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes of thyroid cancer patients after radioiodine therapy and its relationship with metastasis.

In most cancers peripheral blood lymphocytes exhibit DNA damage. In the case of thyroid cancer the micronucleus (MN) assay has been used to assess DNA damage before and after exposure to iodine-131 ((131)I). The aim of our study was to use this method to assess DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of thyroid cancer patients and search for its relationship with metastasis as well as (131)I exposure. A significant increase in micronuclei frequency was observed in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 54 thyroid cancer patients in comparison to 38 controls (p=0.000). Further analysis revealed significant elevation in micronuclei index from 48.5 MN/1000 BN cells (range: 25.1-111.2, n=25) in patients without metastasis to 68.1 MN/1000 BN cells (range: 26.2-135.5, n=29, p=0.001) in group of patients with metastasis to one or more sites. There was no clear correlation between the micronuclei frequency and the therapeutic (131)I dose ranging from 0.41 to 31.5 GBq with the exposure interval of <1 to 126 months. In addition, age and sex did not show any influence on micronuclei frequency in either patients or control population. These findings are indicative of increased basal DNA damage in thyroid cancer patients before treatment. Radioiodine treatment did not increase DNA damage measured by the micronuclei frequency for the interval between the last radioiodine dose administered and analysis of blood sample. However a significant increase of peripheral blood lymphocytes micronuclei was observed in thyroid cancer patients with metastasis.

Evaluation of the radioprotective effect of turmeric extract and vitamin E in mice exposed to therapeutic dose of radioiodine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the radioprotective effect of turmeric extract (40 mg/kg body weight) and vitamin E (α- tocopherol acetate, 400 IU/kg body weight) supplementation on lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and antioxidant defense enzymes in various organs like liver, kidney and salivary glands at 24 h in adult Swiss mice. (131)Iodine exposure significantly increased lipid peroxidation in kidney and salivary glands in comparison to control animals. Pre supplementation with turmeric extract for 15 days showed significant lowering of lipid peroxidation in kidney. On the other hand vitamin E pre supplementation showed marked reduction in lipid peroxidation in salivary glands. Reduced glutathione levels decreased significantly in liver after radiation exposure. However, pre supplementation with turmeric extract and vitamin E did not improve glutathione levels in liver. In conclusion, we have observed differential radioprotective effect of turmeric extract and vitamin E in kidney and salivary glands. However, Vitamin E seems to offer better radioprotection for salivary glands which is known to be the major site of cellular destruction after radioiodine therapy in patients.

Protective effect of Ocimum sanctum L after high-dose 131iodine exposure in mice: an in vivo study.

Radioprotective effect of aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum (40 mg/kg body weight, for 15 days) in mice exposed to high-doses (3.7 MBq) of oral 131iodine was investigated by studying the organ weights, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense enzymes in various target organs like liver, kidneys, salivary glands and stomach at 24 hr after exposure in adult Swiss mice. The mean weight of the salivary glands showed significant increase after 131iodine administration. 131iodine exposure significantly increased lipid peroxidation in kidneys and salivary glands in comparison to control animals. Pretreatment with O. sanctum in radioiodine exposed group showed significant reduction in lipid peroxidation in both kidneys and salivary glands. In liver, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels showed significant reduction after radioiodine exposure while pretreatment with O. sanctum exhibited less depletion in GSH level even after 131iodine exposure. However, no such changes were observed in stomach. The results indicate the possibility of using aqueous extract of O. sanctum for ameliorating 131Iodine induced damage to the salivary glands.