CHEMICAL PROTECTION OF RAT THYMOCYTES IRRADIATED IN VITRO
The effect of chemical compounds on the survival of rat thymocytes irradiated in vitro was studied. The oxygenconcentration of the treated and untreated cell-suspension was also determined. The addition of cysteine, 1- dimethyicysteine, isocysteine, cysteamine, and S-2 aminoethylisothiuronium bromide hydrobromide (AET) to the suspensions appreciably retarded the death-rate of the irradiated cells, but did not reduce the oxygen-content of the suspensions to a level which could be expected to affect their radiosensitivity. It was concluded that these compounds protect by reacting with radiosensitive sites in the cell and not by causing anoxia in cells or radiosensitive organs. Cystamine, BETA -homocysteine, adrenaline, and histamine were ineffective with regard to the death-rate and depleting the cell-suspension of oxygen. Since these compounds are radioprotective in vivo it is proposed that they have a pharmacological mode of action and therefore do not protect by reacting with the radiosensitive sites in the cells. The different effect of cystamine in vivo and in vitro may also be explained by its conversion to cysteamine, which may occur in vivo but not in vitro. Noradrenaline, diethyldithiocarbamate, d- and dl- dimethyl-cysteine, alpha -homocysteine, and glutathione were found to interfere with the eosinstaining technique employed to determine the number of non-viable cells, but have been classified as non-protectors at the cellular level. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- National Defence Research Organization T.N.O., Rijswijk (Z.H), Netherlands
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-005922
- OSTI ID:
- 4753316
- Journal Information:
- Intern. J. Radiation Biol., Journal Name: Intern. J. Radiation Biol. Vol. Vol: 5
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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