Figure 4.

MitoTEMPO rescued the loss of salivary fluid secretion in irradiated mice. (a) Pilocarpine-stimulated salivary fluid secretion was monitored in control mice (CTL), irradiated mice (IR), and mice receiving MitoTEMPO with or without IR, on day 0 (24 h prior to IR) and days 10, 30 and 60 after IR. MitoTEMPO was given at 5 mg/kg i.p. 10 min before IR, 24 h after irradiation, followed by a 2.5 mg/kg 48 h after IR. 16 to 20 mice were used as indicated and data are presented as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, indicated values that are significantly different from CTL values at the same time point and **P < 0.01, indicate values that are significantly different as compared to control and MitoTEMPO treated (no IR) at the same time points (unpaired t test). (b) Pilocarpine-stimulated salivary fluid secretion was monitored in the same groups of mice; CTL, MitoTEMPO, IR, IR + MitoTEMPO on day 0 (24 h before IR) and on days 30 and 60 after IR. In this case mice were delivered fractionated IR (IR-f, 3 Gy per day for 5 consecutive days) MitoTEMPO was administered at a dose of 1 mg/kg i.p. 10 min before each IR for 5 days and then repeated for every 24 h for 3 more days. 16 to 18 mice were used as indicated. Mean ± SEM, *P < 0.05, indicated values that are significantly different from CTL values at the same time point and **P < 0.01, indicate values that are significantly different from all other groups values at the same time point (unpaired t test).