Effect of nuclear radiation on rat model of decompression sickness induced by large depth rapid floating escape

Objective: To investigate the effects of different doses of nuclei exposure at different time on morbidity, mortality, and damage indicators in a rat model of decompression sickness caused by rapid flotation escape at a large depth. Methods: Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group, escape control group and six intervention groups (escape at 4 hours after 4 Gy radiation, escape at 4 hours after 6 Gy radiation, escape at 4 hours after 12 Gy radiation, escape at 8 hours after 4 Gy radiation, escape at 8 hours after 6 Gy radiation, escape at 8 hours after 12 Gy radiation). Rats in intervention groups were exposed to different doses of γ-ray (4,6,12 Gy, respectively), and then were carried out a large depth and rapid buoyancy escape experiment (maximum pressure depth of 150 m). The changes of lung W/D, spleen index and plasma IL-1β levels were analyzed. Results: Compared with the blank control group, decompression sickness incidence and mortality of rats in escape groups after nuclear exposure were increased significantly. In 4 Gy and 6 Gy irradiation groups, higher morbidity and mortality were observed in rats which escaped at 4 h post nuclear exposure when compared with rats in 8 h groups. Consistent with the changes in morbidity and mortality, the wet / dry ratio of lung tissue, the pathological damage of lung tissue, and the decrease of spleen index showed the same trends: the changes were obvious at 4 h after lower doses nuclear radiation (4 Gy and 6 Gy), not at 8 h. However, these indicators all changed markedly at 4 and 8 h after higher doses nuclear radiation (12 Gy). Plasma IL-1β levels were significantly increased in each post-radiation exposure group when compared with the blank control group and the exposed control group. Conclusion: Nuclear radiation-induced lung injury, the damaged immune function and elevated plasma inflammatory factor concentrations increase the risk of decompression sickness after rapid ascent.