Protein carbonyls and traditional biomarkers in pigs exposed to low-dose [gamma]-radiation

• Published in: Research in veterinary science Vol. 94; no. 2; pp. 214 - 218
• Main Authors: Smutná, Miriam, Benová, Katarína, Dvorák, Petr, Nekvapil, Tomás, Kopriva, Vladimír, Maté, Dionýz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Limited 01.04.2013
• Subjects: Amino acids; Biomarkers; Cholesterol; Enzymes; Experiments; Glucose; Hogs; Nuclear power plants; Proteins; Veterinary medicine
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2012.09.002

Response of pigs to irradiation manifested by production of protein carbonyls and adaptable enzymes was studied in two experiments. In one experiment, 10 mixed-sex pigs were exposed to 0.5Gy whole body 60 Co irradiation. In the other experiment, another batch of 10 pigs was exposed to 1.0Gy half-body irradiation. Unlike those exposed to half-body irradiation, the pigs exposed to whole-body irradiation showed significant increase in protein carbonyls by 73%, and a decrease in cholesterol by 25.7%, compared to the control group. In both cases of dose-dependent irradiation exposure, pigs showed a decrease in alanine aminotransferase activity compared with the control group. At the dose of 1Gy, ALT activity decreased significantly by 27.7%. Aspartate aminotransferase activity in pigs after half-body irradiation decreased significantly by 65.5%. Although low doses of ionizing radiation were applied, monitoring of the above biochemical parameters helped define the pigs' biological response.