Collagen Structural Changes in Early Radiation-Induced Damage

The aim of the investigation is complex study of the mechanisms of radiation-induced collagen damage and following recovery of its structure on various levels of multilayer organization.

Materials and Methods. Rat tail tendons were used as the model of collagen containing tissue. The animals were exposed to radiation at the dosage of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 Gy using gamma-apparatus “Luch-1” (Russia) in vivo. The collagen structure was studied 1 and 7 days after the radiation by trypsin-resistance test, differential scanning calorimetry, confocal microscopy with second-harmonic generation imaging, and cross polarization optical coherence tomography.

Results. There were determined certain regularities of collagen structural changes depending on radiation time. One day after the radiation of collagen containing tissue the leading processes were those of collagen structural damage at molecular level due to reactive oxygen species exposure. Within a week after the radiation, the collagen structure recovered partially, and therefore, there recovered its resistance to proteolytic activity. Ionizing radiation initiated the cascade of reactions beginning with direct and indirect protein damage, and resulting in its remodeling as a result of nonenzymic bridging between triple helix forming quaternary structure of collagen.

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Kochueva М.V., Ignatieva N.Y., Zakharkina О.L., Kamensky V.А., Snopova L.B., Kulabukhova K.S., Maslennikova А.V. Collagen Structural Changes in Early Radiation-Induced Damage. Sovremennye tehnologii v medicine 2012; (4): 24