Background: The present study evaluates the protective effect of amifostine (AMI) on acute toxicity in large vessels and the heart in rats with radiotherapy (RT) applied to the thorax.

Methods: Twenty-one Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Alone RT (n = 7), amifostine plus RT (AMI+RT, n = 7), and control (n = 7) groups. The rats in the RT and AMI+RT groups received a single dose of 20 Gy radiation to the entire thorax. Prior to irradiation, AMI was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 200 mg/kg, 30 minutes before the procedure. Five days after irradiation, the levels of p53, CD68, and COX in the vascular tissue (aorta) were measured, along with the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in the aortic and heart tissues.

Results: The results showed that the level of MDA significantly increased after irradiation, but GSH levels did not change (P < .001 and P = 0.138). Malondialdehyde levels were significantly reduced by AMI, and GSH levels increased (P = .031 and P = .007). When comparing the control group with AMI + RT, MDA and glutathione levels were similar (P = .314 and P = .136). Histopathological evaluation revealed increased cellular inflammation (P = .002) and vascular damage (P = .015) in aortic tissue after thoracic RT irradiation, but no difference in terms of myofibrosis (P = .901) in heart tissue.

Conclusion: AMI has a radioprotective and antioxidant effect against RT-induced cardiovascular toxicity.