Effects of 60 Co γ-Radiation on the Hepatic and Cerebral Levels of Some Prostaglandins

In two groups of rats irradiated with 60 Co γ-rays (500 and 750 rad, respectively) the changes in the hepatic and cerebral contents of prostaglandin E1 and prostaglandin F2α were investigated, at constant intervals, up to 18 days after irradiation. Hepatic and cerebral prostaglandins E1 were found to be similarly increased during the whole postirradiation period in both 500-rad-irradiated rats and 750-rad-irradiated rats. Conversely, these rays were found to have no significant effect on the hepatic prostaglandin F2α and to induce, depending on the radiation dose, a reversible or an irreversible decrease in the content of cerebral prostaglandin F2α. These results are believed to provide some evidence for a schematic formulation of a mechanism of the radiation-induced latent circulatory insufficiency and to elucidate some aspects of the functional interrelations between these prostaglandins, catecholamines, acetylcholine and cyclic AMP after γ-irradiation.