Protective Effects of DL-α-Tocopherol Acetate and Sodium Selenate on the Liver of Rats Exposed to Gamma Radiation REFI ˙ YE YANARDA˘ G,* , 1 S . EHNAZ BOLKENT, 2 AND AHMET KI ˙ ZI ˙ R 3 1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, I · stanbul University, Avcilar, 34850, Turkey; 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, I · stanbul University, Vezneciler, 34459, Turkey; and 3 Oncology Institute, I · stanbul University, Çapa, 34300, I · stanbul, Turkey Received August 9, 2000; Revised January 9, 2001; Accepted February 15, 2001 ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to investigate whether vitamin E (as DL-α- tocopherol acetate) and selenium (as sodium selenate) exert a protec- tive effect against radiation damage. The liver tissue of rats irradiated with a single dose of 1000 cGy 60 Co-γ-irradiation was examined for morphological changes after the intraperitoneal (ip) administration DL-α-tocopherol acetate and sodium selenate as compared to controls. Also, the amounts of blood glu- tathione and serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transami- nase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and total protein were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Degenerative changes were observed under light and electron microscopy in the liver tissue of the control (radiation only) group. In the group receiving radiation and ip doses of DL-α-tocopherol acetate and sodium selenate, the damage to the liver tissue was minimal or absent. In the radiation-only group, a reduction of the blood glu- tathione level and increases in serum values of AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH activity were observed, whereas in the irradiation-treated group, the reverse was found to occur. Based on these morphological and bio- chemical observations, it was concluded that the ip administration of DL-α-tocopherol acetate and sodium selenate exerts a protective effect against liver radiation damage. Biological Trace Element Research 263 Vol. 83, 2001 © Copyright 2001 by Humana Press Inc. All rights of any nature, whatsoever, reserved. 0163-4984/01/8303–0263 $12.75 *Author to whom all correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed.