Protective effects of DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate and sodium selenate on the liver of rats exposed to gamma radiation

The aim of this study is to investigate whether vitamin E (as DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate) and selenium (as sodium selenate) exert a protective effect against radiation damage. The liver tissue of rats irradiated with a single dose of 1,000 cGy 60Co-gamma-irradiation was examined for morphological changes after the intraperitoneal (ip) administration DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate and sodium selenate as compared to controls. Also, the amounts of blood glutathione and serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and total protein were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Degenerative changes were observed under light and electron microscopy in the liver tissue of the control (radiation only) group. In the group receiving radiation and ip doses of DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate and sodium selenate, the damage to the liver tissue was minimal or absent. In the radiation-only group, a reduction of the blood glutathione level and increases in serum values of AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH activity were observed, whereas in the irradiation-treated group, the reverse was found to occur. Based on these morphological and biochemical observations, it was concluded that the ip administration of DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate and sodium selenate exerts a protective effect against liver radiation damage.