Impact of radiation exposure on high fat diet-fed rats

Purpose: The effects of low-dose rate (100 mGy/min) fractionated whole body gamma irradiation (FWBGI) with different doses on the expression of some target genes involved in the development of an inflammatory sate and type 2 diabetes mellitus in high fat diet (HFD) Wistar rats were analyzed in several organs. Method: HFD Wistar rats were exposed to different doses (12, 24 and 48 Gy) divided into 24 fractions (three times a week for two months). Thus, the daily doses were 0.5, 1, 2 Gy respectively. Total RNA was extracted and the expression of target genes (and its protein levels) was measured in the four intestinal segments (Duodenum, Jejunum, Ileum and colon) and in other organs such as liver and brain. Results: An intestinal specific segment response to FWBGI. The inflammatory and the pre-diabetic states already induced by HFD were found to be improved by the irradiation exposure. This irradiation effect mainly occurs via altered anti/inflammatory-diabetic gene expressions (mRNA and protein levels) of the incretin glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and of interleukin 10 (IL10) overall bowel segments except the colon which has its own specific response to irradiation exposure by the induction of the insulin receptor substrate 4 (IRS-4) and the uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3). Similarly, to the intestine, our results demonstrate that liver and brain of HFD rats were behave in the same anti/inflammatory, anti-diabetic state by the induction of some gene and their protein levels. Conclusion: Results could be of great importance by suggesting, for the first time, a protective role of FWBGI on HFD animal models (author).