Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Late ultrastructural effects of heavy ions and gamma irradiation in the gastrointestinal tract of the mouse

  • Published:
Virchows Archiv B

Summary

The irradiated gastrointestinal tract of LAF1 mice was examined one year following a single dose (1000 rad) of either12C heavy ions or60Co γ rays. Qualitative ultrastructural analysis of the gastrointestinal tract of mice exposed to heavy ions or γ irradiation did not show any discernible differences. In the stomach of irradiated mice, parietal cells contained numerous lysosomes ; the gastric chief cells occasionally contained myelin figures. The epithelial cells of the small intestine, especially jejunum and ileum, showed several changes: (1) increased vacuolation was seen both inter-and intra-cellularly, (2) epithelial cell projections penetrated the basal lamina and were in contact with underlying mesenchymal cells, (3) occasional Paneth cells contained intracellular vacuoles consisting of fibrillar and granular material. In the large intestine occasional signs of degeneration were observed. Qualitative analysis of stromal elements of the gut in irradiated mice indicated the presence of damage to capillary endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and some nerve processes. The amount of basement membrane (BM) around capillaries and small vessels was increased; the same phenomenon was observed to affect the nerve processes, but with less severity.

Quantitative analysis of the basement membrane thickness around capillaries in irradiated vs. control mice showed significant differences. Basement membrane thickness around capillaries in the gastric mucosa and duodenum did not differ significantly in any of the treatment groups. In jejunum, the γ treated animals exhibited significantly higher BM thickness when compared to unirradiated controls. In ileum, only12C-heavy ion treated animals showed thicker BM when compared to their respective controls. In colon, both12C-and60Co-treated animals showed increased BM thickness when compared to controls.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ainsworth EJ, Kelly LS, Mahlmann LJ, Schooley JC, Thomas RH, Howard J, Alpen EL (1983) Response of colony-forming units —spleen to heavy charged particles. Radiat Res 96:180–197

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alpen EL, Powers-Risius P, McDonad M (1980) Survival of intestinal crypt cells after exposure to high Z, high-energy charged particles. Radiat Res 83:677–687

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Birke G, Liljedami S, Plantin L, Wetterfors J (1962) Gastrointestinal albumin leakage at ionian radiation. Sartryck ur Nord Med 67:397–419

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blakely EA, Tobias CA, Yang TCH, Smith KC, Lyman JT (1979) Inactivation of human kidney cells by high energy monoenergetic heavy-ion beams. Radiat Res 80:122–160

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carr KE, Toner PG, McLay ALC, Hamlet R (1981) The ultrastructure of some gastrointestinal lesions in experimental animals and man. Scand J Gastroent 16:107–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Casarett GW, Eddy HA (1970) Effects of radiation on vasculature of intestine. USAEC BNL 50203(C-57):181–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Cervos-Navarro J (1964) Electronenmikroskopische Befunde an den Capillaren des Kaninchengehirns nach der Einwirkung ionisierender Strahlen. Arch Psychiat Nervenkr 205:204–222

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Curtis SB (1977) Calculated LET distributions of heavy ion beams. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 3:87–91

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dalton AJ (1955) A chrome-osmium fixative for electron microscopy. Anat Rec 121:281

    Google Scholar 

  • Egawa J, Ishioka K (1978) Radiation effects on the fine blood vessels in abdominal organs of mice. Acta Radiol Oncol 17:414–422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson B, Johnson L, Lundqvist P-G (1983) Ultrastructural aspects of capillary function in irradiated bowel: an experimental study in the cat. Scand J Gastroenterol 18:473–480

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fajardo LF, Brown HM, Glatstein E (1976) Glomerular and juxta-glomerular lesions in radiation nephropathy. Radiat Res 68:177–183

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fatemi SH, Pereira G (1979) Behavior of gastric parietal cells during the course of a pure sugar diet and refeeding regimen. Anat Rec 193:534–535

    Google Scholar 

  • Fatemi SH, Cullan GF, Sharp JG (1984) Evaluation of the effects of pentagastrin, gastrin, and pancreatic glucagon on cell proliferation in the gastrointestinal tract. Cell Tissue Kinet 17:119–133

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fike JR, Gillette EL, Edwards FM, Kraushaar JJ, Prull DE (1979) Irradiation of the microvasculature with fast neutrons. Radiat Biol 131:736–766

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghidoni JJ, Campbell MM (1969) Karyolytic bodies, giant lysosomes in the jejunum of protonirradiated Rhesus monkeys. Arch Pathol 88:480–488

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghiorso A, Gründer HA, Hartsough W, Lamberton G, Lofgren E, Lou K, Main R, Mobley R, Morgada R, Salsig W, Selph F (1973) The bevalac: an economical facility for very high energetic heavy particle research. IEEE Trans Nucl Sci NS 20:155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gründer HA, Hartsough W, Lofgren EJ (1971) Acceleration of heavy ions at the Bevatron. Science 174:1128–1129

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hagemann R, Stragand JJ (1977) Fasting and refeeding cell kinetics response of jejunum, ileum and colon. Cell Tissue Kinet 10:3–14

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heiander HF (1965) Early effects of X-irradiation on the ultrastructure of gastric fundus glands. Radiat Res 26:244–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt JE, Hughes L, Baum JW, Kuehner AV, McCaslin JB, Rindi A, Smith AR, Stephens LD, Thomas RH, Griffith RV, Welles CG (1978) Ames collaborative study of cosmic ray neutrons: mid-latitude flights. Health Phys 34:375–384

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hugon J, Borgers M (1966) Fine structural changes and localization of phosphatase in the epithelium of the duodenal crypt of X-irradiated mice. Histochemie 6:209–225

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hugon J, Maisin JR, Borgers M (1965 a) Changes in ultrastructure of duodenal crypts in X-irradiated mice. Radiat Res 25:244–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hugon J, Maisin JR, Borgers M (1965 b) Delayed ultrastructural changes in duodenal crypts of X-irradiated mice. Int J Radiat Biol 10:113–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Law MP (1981) Radiation-induced vascular injury and its relation to late effects in normal tissues. Adv Radiat Biol 9:37–73

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leith JT, McDonald M, Powers-Risius P, Bliven SF, Howard J (1982a) Response of rat spinal cord to single and fractionated doses of accelerated heavy ions. Radiat Res 89:176–193

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leith JT, McDonald M, Howard J (1982b) Residual skin damage in rats 1 year after exposure to X rays or accelerated heavy ions. Radiat Res 89:209–213

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lyman JT, Howard J (1977) Dosimetry and instrumentation for helium and heavy ions. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 3:81–85

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maisin JR (1974) The influence of radiation on blood vessels and circulation, Chapter III. Ultrastructure of the vessel wall. Curr Top Radiat Res Q 10:29–57

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mathan M, Hermos JA, Trier JS (1972) Structural features of the epitheliomesenchymal interface of rat duodenal mucosa during development. J Cell Biol 52:577–588

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald LW, Hayes TL (1967) The role of capillaries in the pathogenesis of delayed radionecrosis of brain. Am J Pathol 50:745–758

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Penney DP, Rosenkrans Jr. WA (1984) Cell-cell matrix interactions in induced lung injury, I. The effects of X-irradiation on basal laminar proteoglycans. Radiat Res 99:410–419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pierce GB, Nakane PK (1969) Basement membranes. Synthesis and deposition in response to cellular injury. Lab Invest 21:27–41

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quastler H, Hampton JC (1962) Effects of ionizing radiation on the fine structure and function of the intestinal epithelium of the mouse. I. Villus epithelium. Radiat Res 17:914–931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raju MR, Lyman JT, Brustad T, Tobias CA (1969) Heavy charged-particle beams. In: Ahix FH, Roesch WC, Tochilin E (eds) Radiation dosimetry, 2nd ed, vol 3, Academic Press, New York, pp 151–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Regaud C, Nogier T, Lacassagne A (1912) Sur les effets redoutables des irradiations étendues de l’abdomen et sur les lésions du tube digestif déterminées par les Rayons de Röntgen. Arch Elect Med 21:321–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Steamer SP, Devine RL, Christian EJB (1976) Late changes in the irradiated microvasculature: an electron microscope study of the effects of fission neutrons. Radiat Res 65:351–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steamer SP, Yang VV, Devine RL (1979) Cardiac injury in the aged mouse: comparative ultrastructural effects of fission spectrum neutrons and gamma rays. Radiat Res 78:429–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi M, Kallman RF (1977) Quantitative estimation of histological changes in subcutaneous vasculature of the mouse after X-irradiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2:61–68

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tenforde TS, Tenforde SD, Crabtree KE, Parks DL, Schilling WA, Parr SS, Flynn MJ, Howard J, Lyman JT, Curtis SB (1981) RBE values for radiation-induced growth delay in rat rhabdomyosarcoma tumors exposed to plateau and peak carbon, neon and argon ions. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 7:217–221

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas RH, Lyman JT, de Castro TM (1980) A measurement of the average energy required to create an ion pair in nitrogen by high-energy ions. Radiat Res 82:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trier JS, Browning TH (1966) Morphologic response of the mucosa of human small intestine to X-ray exposure. J Clin Invest 45:194–204

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuya A, Wakano Y, Otake M, Dock DS (1977) Capillary microscopic observation on the superficial minute vessels of atomic bomb survivors, Hiroshima, 1972–1973. Radiat Res 72:353–363

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vracko R (1978) Effects of aging and diabetes on basal lamina thickness of six cell types. In: Kefalides NA (ed) Biology and chemistry of basement membranes, Academic Press, New York, pp 483–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Wartiovaara J, Tarpila S (1977) Cell contacts and polysomes in irradiated human jejunal mucosa at onset of epithelial repair. Lab Invest 36:660–665

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe H (1978) Experimentally induced intestinal metaplasia in Wistar rats by X-ray irradiation. Gastroenterology 75:796–799

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang VV, Steamer SP, Ainsworth EJ (1978) Late ultrastructural changes in the mouse coronary arteries and aorta after fission neutron or60Co gamma irradiation. Radiat Res 74:436–456

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, 2085 Adelbert Road, 44106, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    S. H. Fatemi

  2. Allan Research Institute, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, H3A 1A1, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    M. Antosh

  3. Departments of Anatomy and Radiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Dewey Avenue, 68105, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

    G. M. Cullan & J. G. Sharp

Authors
  1. S. H. Fatemi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Antosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. M. Cullan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. G. Sharp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fatemi, S.H., Antosh, M., Cullan, G.M. et al. Late ultrastructural effects of heavy ions and gamma irradiation in the gastrointestinal tract of the mouse. Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathol 48, 325–340 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02890139

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02890139

Key words

Search

Navigation