The Role of Atropine in Modulating the Effects of Gamma-Irradiation in Rat Diaphragm

Abstract

The present work has been performed to investigate any possible therapeutic role of the drug "atropine" in modulating the effect of gamma irradiation on water, electrolytes (sodium and potassium ions) and some metabolites in the rat diaphragm muscle. The results showed that, the level of sodium, water, lactic acid and inorganic phosphate were remarkably elevated in muscles of ᵞ irradiated rats (8 Gy) through out all time intervals. On the other hand, potassium content of the muscle was significantly reduced. Addition of atropine with different concentrations to Krebs saline in which control muscles are perfused (0.25, 0.75 and 1.5 mg/100 ml Krebs saline) did not induce any significant change in the muscle electrolytes or water content, while a significant fall in lactic and inorganic phosphate was observed. Double treatment with atropine following ᵞ irradiation (8 Gy) improved most of the above radiation induced changes in the investigated parameters. It could be concluded that atropine can achieve a restoration in rats against gamma-irradiation induced disorders on the mentioned parameters in rat diaphragm muscle.