Protection of gastrointestinal and haematopoietic systems by ascorbic acid-2-glucoside in mice exposed to whole-body gamma radiation

Whole-body exposure of mice to gamma radiation leads to depletion of tissue antioxidant defence and damages the haematopoietic and gastrointestinal systems in mice. Administration of ascorbic acid-2-glucoside (AsAG) at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight could prevent the radiation-induced reduction of total White Blood Cell (WBC) count and decrease in bone marrow viability following whole-body radiation. An enhanced spleen colony formation was also observed in whole-body irradiated mice administered with AsAG. Administration of AsAG also protected the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract from the radiation-induced structural alterations. The generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in tissues due to radiation exposure depletes the antioxidant defence systems and increase the peroxidative damage to membrane lipids, and the administration of AsAG prior to irradiation protected the tissue antioxidant system and membrane lipids from the radiation-induced damage.