CHEMICAL RADIOPROTECTION

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Aerospace Med.

OSTI ID:4106232

Melville, G S; Harrison, Jr, G W; Gallo, K M

Radioprotection by the use of a combination of 5hydroxytryptamine (5-RT) and acetylcholine, a parasympathomimetic agent, is reported. The form in which 5- HT is administered may alter its effect as a protectant against acute radiation doses, both the creatinine sulfate and the picrate hydrate were used. The protection afforded rats exposed to Cow gamma rays by the individual drugs and the combinations with acetylcholine were studied at 1250 r of acute whole-body irradiation using 157 rats. Both forms of 5-HT as well as their combinations with acetylcholine provided extended mean survival times. Mortality distribution and per cent survival at 30 days postirradiation showed that 5-HT given alone resulted in toxic deaths, with the creatinine sulfate form contributing more heavily than the picrate hydrate. Neither acetylcholine nor creatinine alone or in combination afforded significant protection at this radiation dose when compared to the controls. The 30-day survival was significantly greater for acetylcholinc plus 5-HT creatinine sulfate as compared to 5-HT creatinine sulfate alone. A comparison of death order also showed a significantly greater protective effect for the combination of drugs when compared to 5-HT creatinine sulfate. To observe the relation between mortality and radiation dose over the entire lethal range, animals were exposed to various doses, the data recorded, and regression lines drawn. The dose reduction factor at LD 50/30 is 1.503 for the combination of drugs, 1.445 for 5-HT creatinine sulfate, and 1.087 for acetylcholine. A study of the protective effect of 5-HT creatinine sulfate against chronic whole-body radiation was also made. Mortality and mean survival times were 0% and 30 days in drug-treated and 45% and 20 days in untreated groups. It was concluded that the protective effect of 5-HT creatinine sulfate combined with acetylcholine against acute wholebody irradiation is appreciably greater than that of either agent alone. (TCO)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas, Austin
• NSA Number: NSA-18-011853
• OSTI ID: 4106232
• Journal Information: Aerospace Med., Journal Name: Aerospace Med. Vol. Vol: 34
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACETYLCHOLINE
AMINES
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
COBALT 60
CREATININE
EFFICIENCY
GAMMA RADIATION
HORMONES
HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PICRIC ACID
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RATS
SEROTONIN