Evaluation of hydration and nutritional gels as supportive care after total-body irradiation in mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract

Concern regarding the potential for radiation exposure from accidents or nuclear and radiologic terrorism is increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of minimal supportive care consisting of hydration or nutritional gels could be used to reduce mortality in mice exposed to (60)Co gamma-radiation. Male CD2F1 mice received 0, 8.50, or 9.25 Gy (60)Co at a dose rate of 0.6 Gy/min. These groups were further divided into 3 treatment groups that-in addition to pelleted food and water-received no supportive care, hydration gel, or nutritional gel. Overall survival, mean survival time, consumption of pelleted food and gel, and body weight were recorded for 30 d. Radiation caused dose-dependent decreases in overall survival, consumption of pelleted food and supplemental gel, and body weight. However, at each radiation dose (0, 8.50, 9.25 Gy), the type of supportive care did not modify overall survival, mean survival time, or changes in body weight. These results demonstrate that hydration and nutritional gels were not effective methods of supportive care after high-dose total body irradiation in mice.

Figure 1.

Nutritional gel supplement. Hydration and nutritional gels were removed from their packaging and placed on the floor of the cage on an inverted lid of a 3-in. culture dish and replaced and weighed every 48 to72 h during cage changing.

Figure 2.

Acrylic mouse restraint box containing 3 phantoms. The box was portioned into 8 equal sections. Mice or acrylic phantoms (length, 3 in; diameter, 1 in.) were placed into each section.

Figure 3.

Survival of mice treated receiving 8.50 or 9.25 Gy ⁶⁰Co total-body irradiation. In addition to pelleted food and water, mice received no supportive care, hydration gel, or nutritional gel. Overall, survival (percentage of mice alive on day 30 after irradiation) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for mice irradiated with 8.50 Gy compared with those receiving 9.25 Gy. There were no significant differences in the 30-d survival between the no-support, hydration support, and nutritional support groups of mice (n = 20 per group) irradiated with either 8.50 Gy or 9.25 Gy.

Figure 4.

Average consumption of gels and food pellets over 30 d as a function of radiation dose (0, 8.50, or 9.25 Gy ⁶⁰Co) and level of supportive care (no support, nutritional gel, hydration gel). (A) Gel consumption. Across all study days, mice in the irradiated groups consumed significantly (*, P < 0.001) less hydration and nutritional gels than did nonirradiated (0 Gy) mice. (B) Pelleted food consumption. Across all levels of radiation exposure, mice in the nutritional gel supplement subgroups consumed significantly (*, P < 0.001) less pelleted food than did animals in the no-support or hydration gel groups. Data are given as mean ± SEM of pellets or gel consumed.

Figure 5.

Body weights of the 3 subgroups of mice (no support, hydration support, nutritional support) for each radiation group (control nonirradiated mice [0 Gy], 8.50 Gy, or 9.25 Gy). The 3 panels illustrate a radiation dose-dependent decrease in body weight (P < 0.001). The level of supportive care had no effect on body weight for either the nonirradiated and irradiated mice. Data are given as mean ± SEM total body weight.