Molecular and Biochemical Studies of Gamma Irradiated Rates Treated by Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Natural Antioxidant

Abstract Purpose: Therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation (MSCs) and natural antioxidant such as silymarin have been postulated as hepato-protectors against ionizing radiation induced harm. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of (MSCs) and silymarin to ameliorate damage caused by gamma radiation. Materials and methods: Three days before irradiation, rats were given silymarin at a dose of 70 mg/kg dissolved in distilled water and continued for another 21 days. One day after gamma irradiation at a dose level of 4Gy, male rats were transplanted by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) through intravenous injection. Results: One and three weeks after irradiation, irradiated animals receiving transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) and silymarin seperatly or with each other exhibited a pronounced elevation in liver antioxidant such as Glutathione (GSH) superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione –S- transferase (GST), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDase) activity accompanied with significantdecline in lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide levels in comparing with irradiated rats. Moreover, RAPD-PCR with primers OP-B10 and OP-B14 exhibited strong and different banding patterns in all treated rats compared to untreated control rats after 1 and 3 weeks of treatment.Conclusion: Treatment with MSCs and silymarin possess a radio protective capacity against ionizing-radiation induced oxidative stress and organ injury.