Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based metabonomic investigation of biochemical effects in serum of gamma-irradiated mice

Purpose: Radiation exposure induces change in many biological compounds. It is important to assess the physiological and biochemical response to an absorbed dose of ionising radiation due to intentional or accidental event and to predict medical consequences for medical management. In the present study, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolic profiling was used in mice serum for identification of radiation-induced changes at metabolite level. Materials and methods: Mice were irradiated with 3, 5 and 8 Gray of gamma-radiation dose and serum samples collected at day 1, 3 and 5 post irradiation were analysed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR) spectroscopy. H-1 NMR spectra of serum were analysed by pattern recognition using principal component analysis. Results: Irradiated mice serum showed distinct metabonomic phenotypes and revealed dose-and time-dependent clustering of irradiated groups. H-1 NMR spectral analysis exhibited increased lactate, amino acids, choline and lipid signals as well as decreased glucose signals. These findings indicate radiation-induced disturbed energy, lipid and protein metabolism. Conclusions: The information obtained from this study reflects multiple physiological dysfunctions. The study promises the application of NMR-based metabonomics in the field of radiobiology, for development of metabolic-based markers for screening of risk populations and medical management in these cases.