Ionizing radiation is one of the environmental factors that may contribute to liver dysfunction through a mechanism involving oxidative stress. This investigation studied the possible therapeutic effects of nano-HAp on hepatotoxicity in rats induced with gamma (γ) radiation. The study was carried out using 3 groups with 10 rats in each. Group 1 comprised the non-irradiated control rats, whereas the rats in groups 2 and 3 received a single dose of 10 Gy γ-radiation. The rats in group 3 were treated with nano-HAp [100 mg·(kg body mass)-1] once a week for 2 weeks starting the day after irradiation. The results showed that the rats exposed to γ-radiation had fragmented DNA, and significantly decreased levels of liver tissue enzymes such as paraoxonase 1, gamma glutamyl, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in tissue were significantly increased compared with the controls. Also, exposure to γ-radiation significantly decreased the activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione oxidase and increased lipid peroxidation in liver tissue. These effects were accompanied by severe histopathological changes to the hepatocytes. Intravenous injection of nano-HAp after irradiation has significant therapeutic potential against irradiation-induced liver damage because the treatment with nano-HAp restored antioxidant activity in the liver, antagonized the significant changes in the levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and restored the tissue level of paraoxonase 1, gamma glutamyl, ALT, and AST. Administering nano-HAp seemed to relieve the pathological changes induced by γ-radiation. Based on these results, it could be concluded that nano-HAp may have a therapeutic effect against liver dysfunction induced by γ-radiation through antagonizing the generation of free radicals and enhancing the antioxidant defense mechanisms.
Keywords: fonction hépatique; gamma irradiation; hydroxyapatite; irradiation gamme; liver function.