Protective effect of oral phosphatidylcholine on radiation-induced releaseof intestinal peptidases in rats

Purpose: To investigate whether phosphatidylcholine (PPC) has a protective effect on mucosa-irradiated rats. Methods: The rats were orally fed with 25 , 50, and 100 mg PPC/kg body weight (b.w.), respectively, for 3 weeks befor e irradiation. After administering the medication and 1 day after irradiati on, a 20 cm segment of the proximal jejunum was perfused in situ and peptid ase activities, as well as the concentrations of the membrane components, w ere assayed. Results: We have shown that the application of a low dose of 2 5 mg PPC/kg b.w. daily for 21 days can prevent damage to membranes induced by 2.0 Gy as represented in the peptidase release profiles during the perfu sion of the proximal jejunum of rats. Higher dose levels did not increase t he protective effect. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a low dosage of exogenous PPC is capable of hindering the impairment of membranes induc ed by a small dose of radiation.