The antioxidant status variability of small mammals in conditions of technogenic radioactive pollution of the environment

We have studied the variability and heterogeneity of the antioxidant status parameters in liver of different mouse-like rodents inhabiting areas of normal and high technogenic radioactive levels (the Komi Republic and the 30km exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power station, CNPS). In organisms of mammals, the ionizing radiation in small doses can form the reaction initiating development of general adaptation syndrome. Small mammals from the CNPS exclusion zone are identified for the increased variability and heterogeneity of antioxidation activity and composition of liver phospholipids in contrast with the mammals of the Ukhta field station. The obtained data evidence a strong misbalance of cell systems for animals from the accident zone being highly prominent in the first three years after the accident. The high variability and heterogeneity of biochemical liver parameters are fixed for animals inhabiting low- or mean-radioactively polluted areas. The antioxidant status changes in liver of mouse-like rodents within the Chernobyl zone depend on species and age of animals and time gone after the accident. The obtained data respond about different damage degrees of the antioxidant protection system in liver cells of the study animals. Against the high variability of phospholipids’ quantitative composition in liver of mouse-like rodents from the accident zone, we respond on the increase in the heterogeneity of parameters for animals caught at the same place. The mouse-like rodents from the radioactive zone demonstrate a relatively stable composition of liver phospholipids in 21 years after the accident evidencing a relatively stable condition of liver cell membranes. The high heterogeneity of response reactions and the high variability of the study liver parameters in organism of rodents from natural populations inhabiting elevated radiation areas specifically produced by low-dose ionizing radiation. These effects enlarge the potency and adaptation of organisms on the cell level to new radioactively polluted environmental conditions.