Changes of The Muscle Na and K Content, Kidney Functions and Cholinesterase in Rats Injected with Atropine and Serotonin Pre-Irradiation

The present study aims to evaluate the effect of the double treatment with atropine and serotonin (5-HT) as a protective agent against gamma-radiation on Na and K content and Na/K ratio in both heart and diaphragm muscles and plasma levels of urea, creatinine and cholinesterase at 1,3 and 5 hr post-irradiation. Male albino rats were divided into four groups: control, whole body gamma-irradiated (6 Gy), injected i.p. with atropine ( 0.5 mg/100 g b. wt.) followed by immediate i.p.injection with serotonin (100 mug /100 g b. wt.) and 15 min. pre-irradiation injected with both drugs. The study suggests that: 1-Combined treatment with atropine and serotonin showed a restricted prophylactic role for restoring the induced radiation impairments of Na+ and K+ contents in both cardiac and skeletal muscles during the early period post-irradiation. 2- During the early period after irradiation, the changes in plasma levels of Ch E and urea were proportional with time. So, they can be used as adjunct tests for the study of hematological indices for the early diagnosis of pre-acute forms of irradiation sickness