Morbidity and mortality reduction by supplemental vitamin A or beta-carotene in CBA mice given total-body gamma-radiation

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5886192

Seifter, E; Rettura, G; Padawer, J; Stratford, F; Weinzweig, J; Demetriou, A A; Levenson, S M

Male CBA mice received graded doses (450-750 rad) of total-body gamma-radiation (TBR) from a dual-beam /sup 137/Cs irradiator. Commencing directly after TBR, 2 days later, or 6 days later, groups of mice received supplemental vitamin A (Vit A) or beta-carotene (beta-Car), compounds previously found to reduce radiation disease in mice subjected to partial-body X-irradiation. Given directly after TBR, supplemental Vit A decreased mortality, evidenced by increases in the radiation dose required to kill 50% of the mice within 30 days (LD50/30). In one experiment, Vit A increased the LD50/30 from 555 to 620 rad; in another experiment, Vit A increased the dose from 505 to 630 rad. Similarly, in a third experiment, supplemental beta-Car increased the LD50/30 from 510 to 645 rad. Additionally, each compound increased the survival times, even of those mice that died within 30 days. In addition to reduction of mortality and prolongation of survival time, supplemental Vit A moderated weight loss, adrenal gland hyperemia, thymus involution, and lymphopenia--all signs of radiation toxicity. Delaying the supplementation for 2 days after irradiation did not greatly reduce the efficacy of Vit A; however, delaying supplementation for 6 days decreased its effect almost completely.

• Research Organization: Yeshiva Univ., Bronx, NY
• OSTI ID: 5886192
• Journal Information: J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States), Vol. 73:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADRENAL GLANDS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
LYMPHOCYTES
MICE
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION
THYMUS
VITAMIN A
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CESIUM 137
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
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RADIATION DOSES
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
SURVIVAL TIME
TIME DEPENDENCE
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DOSES
DRUGS
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
GLANDS
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
VERTEBRATES
VITAMINS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals