Disasters are accompanied by loss of life, economic damage, and psychological shock. These damages occur even in the event of a radiation disaster. The serious problem with radiation damage is loss of life or genetic changes to the next generation and...
Disasters are accompanied by loss of life, economic damage, and psychological shock. These damages occur even in the event of a radiation disaster. The serious problem with radiation damage is loss of life or genetic changes to the next generation and the effects of birth disorders.
In this paper, using to compounds that folic acid which are tested to aid pregnant women and selenium which are antioxidants related to thyroid functions for experiment. Folic acid and selenium compound were orally administered to pregnant rat and irradiated 2 Gy and 13 Gy of radiation. The 2 Gy survey is for the baby rat experiment and 13 Gy survey is for the mother rat's experiment. The mother rat observed changes in blood corpuscle, in the activity of antioxidants and length of the small intestine. And the baby rat observed changes in blood corpuscle, in the activity of antioxidants activity, length of small intestine, and congenital malformation.
The total number of 199 rats baby rats were born. In each group, 68 rats of control groups, 34 rats of irradiation group, 59 rats of folic acid and selenium compounds administration group and 38 rats of irradiation group after the administration of folic acid. The number of malformations occurred 2 rats(3%) in the control group, 33 rats(97%) in the irradiated group, 1 rats(2%) in folic acid and selenium administration group and 27 rats(71%) in the folate and selenium administration group.
In measuring body length, there was a significant difference between the irradiation group(7.3±0.42 cm) and the irradiation group(8.56±41 cm) after the administration of folic acid(p<0.01). In measuring weight, there was a significant difference between the irradiation group(20.35±4.39 g) and the irradiation group(31.8±5.21 g) after the administration of folic acid(p<0.01). A similar number of hair loss was visual observed in the irradiation group(28 rats) and irradiation group(27 rats) after the administration of folic acid. Visual observation of tail malformations, 1 rat of folic acid and selenium compounds administration group and a significant difference between the irradiation group(13 rats) and the irradiation group(5 rats) after the administration of folic acid(p<0.01). In observation of eye malformations, appeared 3 rats in the radiation group only. On the observation of the loss and defects in the abdominal organs, 3 cases which were loss of left kidney, and 7 cases which were a full gas in the digestive tract. The brain's weight measurement could not find any significant difference in any of the experimental group. The weight of the spleen showed a significant difference between the irradiation group and the irradiation group after folic acid and selenium administration(p<0.05).
Observation in maternal rat’s blood corpuscle in folic acid and selenium administration, lymphocyte counts were significantly higher than in the irradiation group at 1 day after irradiation(p<0.01). And, on the 3 days after irradiation, neutrophil counts were significantly higher than in the irradiation group(p<0.05). in addition, there were a significant difference in lymphocyte, neutriphil and platelet counts of the baby rats(p<0.05).
In the measurement of the activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) as an antioxidant, SOD activity was higher in both maternal(369.90 unit/ml of blood) and baby rats(366.66 unit/ml of blood) than irradiation group(254.34, 270.54 unit/ml of blood).
In the measurement of the length of the villus from which the jejunum was extracted, the length of the small villus was longer in both maternal(487.34±67.2 ㎛) and baby rats(442.65±17.42 ㎛) than irradiation group(342.78±18.63 ㎛, 316.1±18.43 ㎛).
Results of cerebral cortex observations performed to assess the intelligence, senses, and motor abilities of the baby rat are as follows. The cortical thickness of the irradiated group was thin(0.99±0.003 mm). On the other hand, after the administration of the folic acid and selenium compound, the irradiation group was close to a relatively normal value(1.13±0.005 mm).
Studies have shown that folic acid and selenium compounds reduce the disturbance caused by radiation. Rat embryos were also found to reduce the incidence of abnormalities and impediments by irradiation. Therefore, folic acid and selenium are thought to reduce the occurrence of congenital malformations by radiation, thereby partially protecting the fetus from radiation disasters.