QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT NO. 33

Technical Report · Thu Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1959

OSTI ID:4221938

The degree of modification of the radiation-induced increase in the adenosine triphosphatase activity of the spleen and thymus glands and decreases in the acetylcholinesterase activity of the small intestines of rats pretreated with various chemical combinations was used as a means of quantitatively determining the radioprotective effects of chemical agents. The protection provided in these tissues by the drug combinations is expressed in terms of per cent reduction of the radiation dose which was obtained from the direct relationship between the dose of irradiation and the magnitude of enzyme changes at three days after exposure to 400 r. Data are included on the effects of various combinations of 2-mercaptothylamine, 2-aminoethylisothiurouium dichloride, glututhione, hydroxyacetonitrile, and cysteine. Results of 30-day survival studies on animals treated with some of these combinations before exposure to otherwise lethal doses of radiation are included. A method for measuring the serum levels of injected dithiocarbamic acid derivatives was devised by utilizing the known ability of these compounds to form a colored chelate with copper. The rate of absorption of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate was measured after intraperlinueal injection. Results are reported from initiaL studies of the reactivity of dithiocarbamates with enzymes of intermediary carbohydrate metabolism. The influence of x irradiation on the ability of rats to metabolize drugs was studied. A quantitative enzymatic method was developed for measuring the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes in liver microsomes. A comparison of the activity of drug metabolizing, microsomal enzymes in the livers of various species demonstrated that the livers of mice, rats, and guinea pigs contain the enzymes. A marked sex difference was observed in rats. Results are included from a study of the effects of sex, testosterone, and hepatecthmy on enzyme activity. Eighty compounds were tested for protective activity against the lethal effects of 800 r of whole-body x irradiation in mice. Results are tubulated. Results are reported from studies on the radioprotective effects of adrenochrome, epinephrine, and serotenin immediately prior to the administration of a lethal dose of whole-body x irradiation, and the effect of Adrenosem on the adenosine triphosphatase activity and tissue respiration of normal and x- irradiated animals. Data are included on the effect of various metallic ions on radiation lethality in mice and on the kinetic and synthetic aspects of the acid- catalyzed reactions of aziridines with thiourea and its analogs. The design, construction, and calibration of a 10 curie cobalt-60 irradiation facility are described. Studies were carried out oe add to the existing information concerning the effect of fractionation and protraction on mortality in mice following expcsure to x radiation. (For preceding period see NP-7786.) (C.H.)

• Research Organization: Chicago. Univ. Air Force Radiation Lab.
• NSA Number: NSA-14-002259
• OSTI ID: 4221938
• Report Number(s): NP-8043
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACETIC ACID
ACETYLCHOLINE
ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATASE
AET
AMINES
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CYSTEINE
DRUGS
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
ETHYL RADICALS
GLUTATHION
INTESTINE
LETHAL DOSE
MEASURED VALUES
NITRILES
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RATS
SPLEEN
THYMUS