Application of NMR Spectroscopy to Assessment of Radiation Dose and Time Lapse

We employed a rat model system as a first step toward studying the influence of ionizing radiation on the parameters of the metabolite markers in the liver of rats exposed to X-ray at the dose of 6 Gy. We applied whole-body X-ray irradiation to the rat, and profiled metabolites by 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to sort out candidate molecules that can be used to deduce the information needed. We identified 32 metabolites from rat liver extracts. Statistical analysis suggested that samples with or without X-ray irradiation and samples harvested 24 or 72 h after irradiation could approximately be divided into four quadrants of the principal component space. Combinatorial use of signals from characteristic metabolites could differentiate X-ray-irradiated samples from controls and, furthermore, samples collected 24 h after irradiation from those after 72 h. We hope that this work would form a base for treating radiation-poisoned patients in the future.