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Zinc Sulfate and/or Growth Hormone Administration for the Prevention of Radiation-Induced Dermatitis: a Placebo-Controlled Rat Model Study

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Abstract

Growth hormone (GH) and zinc (Zn) were evaluated for their potential to prevent radiation injury using a rat model of radiation-induced skin injury. Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups: a control group not receiving Zn, GH, or irradiation: a radiation (RT) group receiving a single 30 Gy dose of gamma irradiation to the right hind legs; a radiation + GH group (RT + GH) receiving a single 30 Gy dose of gamma irradiation plus the subcutaneous administration of 0.01 IU kg d−1 GH; a radiation + Zn group (RT + Zn) receiving a single 30 Gy dose plus 5 mg kg d−1 Zn po; and a radiation + GH + Zn group (RT + GH + Zn) group receiving a single 30 Gy dose plus subcutaneous 0.01 IU kg d−1 GH and 5 mg kg d−1 Zn po. Acute skin reactions were assessed every 3 days by two radiation oncologists grouping. Light microscopic findings were assessed blindly by two pathologists. Groups receiving irradiation were associated with dermatitis as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The severity of radiodermatitis in the RT + GH, RT + Zn, and RT + GH + Zn groups was significantly lower than that in the RT group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, radiodermatitis was observed earlier in the RT group than in the other treatment groups (P < 0.05). GH and Zn effectively prevented epidermal atrophy, dermal degeneration, and hair follicle atrophy. The highest level of protection against radiation dermatitis was observed in the combination group.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, 61100, Trabzon, Turkey

    Mustafa Kandaz

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Avrasya Hospital, Beştelsiz Mah., 101., Sok., No:107, Akşemsettin Tramvay Durağı, Zeytinburnu, 34020, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mustafa Vecdi Ertekin

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Medikal Park Hospital, Olgunlar Mahallesi, Atatürk Bulvarı, No:5, 23040, Elazığ, Turkey

    İhsan Karslıoğlu

  4. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey

    Fazlı Erdoğan & Cemal Gündoğdu

  5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey

    Orhan Sezen

  6. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Abant İzzet Baysal University, Gölköy Yerleşkesi, 14300, Bolu, Turkey

    Akçahan Gepdiremen

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  1. Mustafa Kandaz
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  2. Mustafa Vecdi Ertekin
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  3. İhsan Karslıoğlu
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  4. Fazlı Erdoğan
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  7. Cemal Gündoğdu
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Correspondence to Mustafa Kandaz.

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The Ethics Committee of Atatürk University Medical School approved the study protocol. This study included 8–12 weeks old and 200 ± 20 g weighed 33 male Sprague–Dawley rats bred at the Experimental Animal Laboratory, Atatürk University Medical School. The rats were quarantined for at least 3 days before irradiation. All groups received standard laboratory chow and water ad libitum.

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Kandaz, M., Ertekin, M.V., Karslıoğlu, İ. et al. Zinc Sulfate and/or Growth Hormone Administration for the Prevention of Radiation-Induced Dermatitis: a Placebo-Controlled Rat Model Study. Biol Trace Elem Res 179, 110–116 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-017-0952-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-017-0952-z

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