Effects And Mechanisms Of RhIL-11 On Prevention And Treatment Of Mice Bone Marrow Injury Induced By Neutron Radiation

Objective: Bone marrow is hypersensitive to neutron radiation. Injury of bone marrow caused by neutron is more serious than that by y-ray. However, there are still not effective measures to prevent and treat bone marrow injury induced by large doses of neutron. IL-11 is a multi-effective cytokine that contributes to bone marrow hematopoietic recovery. Investigation of the influence of IL-11 on bone marrow tissue structure and hematopoietic function after neutron radiation might lead to a bright way to prevent and cure acute radiation sickness (ARS).Materials and Methods: 156 BALB/c mice were whole body irradiated with 2.5 and 4.0Gy of 90% neutron. Animals were dosed with 600 μg/kg/d rhIL-11 prior to 3d and immediately following 4.0 Gy of radiation for successive 3 days. Effects and mechanisms of rhIL-11 on prevention and treatment of mice bone marrow injury induced by neutron radiation were studied by means of specific stain, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, DNA gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry and in situ end labeling.Results: After neutron irradiation of 2.5 and 4.0Gy: (1) Both peripheral blood cells and bone marrow nucleated cells of mice decreased. When administered with IL-11 pre- or post-TBI, numbers of both kinds of cells were significantly increased compared to control group; (2) The number of hematopoietic cells decreased which caused by apoptosis and necrosis. Blood vessel dilatation and bleeding were observed in bone marrow. When administered with IL-11 pre- or post-TBI, apoptosis portion of bone marrow cells decreased and bleeding was alleviated. In addition, IL-11 dosed prior to TBI may protected bone marrow cells from necrosis; (3) The contents of DNA and...