Zinc Sulfate and/or Growth Hormone Administration for the Prevention of Radiation-Induced Dermatitis: a Placebo-Controlled Rat Model Study.

Abstract

Growth hormone (GH) and zinc (Zn) were evaluated for their potential to prevent radiation injury using a rat model of radiation-induced skin injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: a control group not receiving Zn, GH, or irradiation: a radiation (RT) group receiving a single 30Gy dose of gamma irradiation to the right hind legs; a radiation + GH group (RT+GH) receiving a single 30Gy dose of gamma irradiation plus the subcutaneous administration of 0.01IUkgd-1 GH; a radiation + Zn group (RT+Zn) receiving a single 30Gy dose plus 5mgkgd-1 Zn po; and a radiation + GH+Zn group (RT+GH+Zn) group receiving a single 30Gy dose plus subcutaneous 0.01IUkgd-1 GH and 5mgkgd-1 Zn po. Acute skin reactions were assessed every 3days by two radiation oncologists grouping. Light microscopic findings were assessed blindly by two pathologists. Groups receiving irradiation were associated with dermatitis as compared to the control group (P<0.05). The severity of radiodermatitis in the RT+GH, RT+Zn, and RT+GH+Zn groups was significantly lower than that in the RT group (P<0.05). Furthermore, radiodermatitis was observed earlier in the RT group than in the other treatment groups (P<0.05). GH and Zn effectively prevented epidermal atrophy, dermal degeneration, and hair follicle atrophy. The highest level of protection against radiation dermatitis was observed in the combination group.