VITAMIN C AND HYDROXYPROLINE AS MARKERS OF RADIATION-INDUCED CHANGES IN THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

Abstract

Introduction. Despite significant scientific interest in connective tissue, the effects of radiation on its components remain insufficiently studied. Existing research primarily focuses on the effects of ionizing radiation at radiotherapeutic doses, while only a limited number of studies address changes in the connective tissue matrix under radiation exposure.Materials and methods. An experimental study was conducted on 40 sexually mature rats exposed to radiation doses of 1.0, 3.0, and 5.82 Gy to determine the role of vitamin C and hydroxyproline in the development of connective tissue disorders following exposure to different doses of ionizing radiation.Results. It was established that total γ-irradiation leads to a dose-dependent decrease in ascorbic acid levels, which in turn disrupts the hydroxylation of proline to hydroxyproline.Conclusions. The impairment of hydroxylation processes with increasing radiation doses results in disturbances in the post-translational modification of collagen. This is accompanied by a decrease in total and protein-bound hydroxyproline levels, indicating a predominance of collagen degradation over biosynthetic processes, an increase in free hydroxyproline, reflecting collagen degradation processes, a rise in peptide-bound hydroxyproline, suggesting incomplete collagen breakdown and an inability to be reutilized in secondary synthesis.