Elevation of antioxidant potency in mice brain by low-dose X-ray irradiation and its effect on Fe-NTA-induced brain damage

The increase in lipid peroxide levels in mice brain following Fe ³⁺ administration was about 50% of that when 1-methyl-4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was administered. This may be due to excessive oxidation by Fe³⁺, and was supported by the decrease in activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity and membrane fluidity after Fe³⁺ administration. Relatively low-dose X-ray irradiation (0.5 Gy) inhibited lipid peroxidation associated with Fe ³⁺ administration and restored the decreased activities of the above antioxidant enzymes and Na⁺K⁺-ATPase, and membrane fluidity to the levels in the non-Fe³⁺-administered group. In the purine metabolism system, uric acid decreased after Fe³⁺ administration, which may be due to transient impairment of the system for production of uric acid from xanthine by excessive oxidation by Fe³⁺. However, 0.5 Gy irradiation inhibited this decrease in uric acid, increasing its level to that in the non Fe³⁺-administrated group. This may be due to factors such as rapid recovery of the activities of the above antioxidant enzymes and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, and membrane fluidity after 0.5 Gy irradiation. In addition, since no changes were observed in xanthine and uric acid, increased inosine and hypoxanthine may have advanced to a salvage pathway leading to not xanthine but inosine 5′-monophosphate (IMP).