Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology

Changes in stable metabolites of nitric oxide in children,residents of radioac,
tively contaminated territories

Ye. I. Stepanova, I. Ye. Kolpakov, V. V. Vasylenko, V. H. Kondrashova, O. M. Litvinets, V. M. Zyhalo
State Institution “National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”, Melnykov str., 53, Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine

Objective. An evaluation of the changes in nitric oxide system by the level of its stable metabolites in the blood serum and their comparison with content of ¹³⁷Сs in the body of children-residents of radioactively contaminated territories.
Materials and methods. The children of school age, the residents of radioactively contaminated territories were examined. The levels of nitrogen compounds (NO2- and NO3-) were determined by the standard method using Griss-reagent. ¹³⁷Сs content was determined in the children body by whole-radioactive body counter.
Results. Studies of nitric oxide metabolite content in the blood serum revealed the decrease in nitrite level under an absence of the significant changes in nitrate content and sum of NO metabolites in the children-residents of radioactively contaminated territories. An increase in ¹³⁷Cs content in the body was accompanied by a decrease of nitrite level in the blood serum of a significant part of children.

Key words: children, Chornobyl accident, radioactively contaminated territories, stable metabolites of nitric oxide, ¹³⁷Сs.

Problems of radiation medicine and radiobiology. 2014;19:334-344.