PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF L-METHIONINE ON SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS IN RATS EXPOSED TO GAMMA IRRADIATION

Abstract

The present study carried out to detennine the protective effect of L­ methionine on the biochemical and hematological changes against gamma-irradiation. The irradiated animals were exposed to 100, 300 and 600 rad with dose rate 1.389, while the protected animals were injected with intravenous L-methionine (50 mg/kg.b.w.) before irradiation (15-30 min). TI1e experimental animals used were male albino rats Rattus nmvigicus weighing (90 - 110 gm).

TI1e investigated biochemical and hematological criteria were total protein lev­ el, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activity, glutamic pymvic transaminase (GPT) activity, total cholesterol level, high density lipoprotein (HDL) level and low density lipoprotein (LDL) level in semm, as well as reduced glutathione level, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-I'Dl-1) activity, glutathione stability, red blood cells (R.B.Cs.) count, hemoglobin% (l-Ib%) and packed cell volume% (I'CV%) in blood.

Animals under investigation:

Male white rats were used throughout this investigation and were divided into three main groups including control, irradiated and protected groups. TI1e blood and sennn of the control, irradiated and protected groups were ana­

lyzed after 1st., 3rd., 5th., and 7th. days post-irradiation.

The result showed that: Serum total p1•otcin: Intravenous iiDection of L-methionine at a single dose level (50 mg!kg.b.w.)

caused a highly significant increase in total semm protein level.