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Chronic Contamination of Rats with 137Cesium Radionuclide: Impact on the Cardiovascular System

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Abstract

Cardiovascular system impairment has been observed in children and in liquidators exposed to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. No experimental studies of animals have analyzed whether these disorders might be attributed to chronic ingestion of low levels of cesium 137 (137Cs). Biochemical, physiological, and molecular markers of the cardiovascular system were analyzed in rats exposed through drinking water to 137Cs at a dose of 500 Bq kg−1 (6500 Bq l−1). Plasma concentrations of CK and CK-MB were higher (+52%, P < 0.05) in contaminated rats. No histological alteration of the heart was observed, but gene expression was modified in the atria. Specifically, levels of ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) and BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) gene expression increased significantly (P < 0.05). ECG analysis did not disclose any arrhythmia except ST- and RT-segment shortening (−9% and −11%, respectively, P < 0.05) in rats exposed to 137Cs. Mean blood pressure decreased (−10%, P < 0.05), and its circadian rhythm disappeared. Overall, chronic contamination by an extreme environmental dose of 137Cs for 3 months did not result in cardiac morphological changes, but the cardiovascular system impairments we observed could develop into more significant changes in sensitive animals or after longer contamination.

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Abbreviations

ACE:

Angiotensin converting enzyme

ANF:

Atrial natriuretic factor

BNP:

Brain natriuretic peptide

137Cs:

Cesium

CK:

Creatine kinase

CYP:

Cytochrome P450

ECG:

Electrocardiogram

ET:

Endothelin

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

SERCA:

Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase

T3:

Triiodothyronine

T4:

Thyroxine

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank T. Loiseau and P. Voyer for their assistance during animal exposure and experimentation. This study was part of the ENVIRHOM research program, supported by the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Direction de la RadioProtection de l’Homme, Service de Radiobiologie et d’Epidémiologie, Laboratoire de RadioToxicologie Expérimentale, IRSN, B.P. n°17, 92262, Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France

    Yann Guéguen, Philippe Lestaevel, Line Grandcolas, Cédric Baudelin, Stéphane Grison, Patrick Gourmelon & Maâmar Souidi

  2. Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Direction de la RadioProtection de l’Homme, Service de Dosimétrie interne, IRSN, B.P. n°17, 92262, Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France

    Jean-René Jourdain

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  1. Yann Guéguen
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  2. Philippe Lestaevel
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Correspondence to Yann Guéguen.

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Yann Guéguen and Philippe Lestaevel participated equally to this work.

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Guéguen, Y., Lestaevel, P., Grandcolas, L. et al. Chronic Contamination of Rats with 137Cesium Radionuclide: Impact on the Cardiovascular System. Cardiovasc Toxicol 8, 33–40 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-008-9013-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-008-9013-3

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