PROTECTION OF PRIMATES AGAINST LETHAL DOSES OF X-RADIATION

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · Nature

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/194492a0· OSTI ID:4785510

VanLancker, J L; Wolf, R C; Mowbray, J B

Cysteine and AET were administered intravenously to rhesus monkeys immediately before exposure to x radiation at a dosage level of 100 and 500 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Epinephrine was injected subcutaneously to avoid collapse of blood pressure, A marked increase in the 30 day survival of rhesus monkeys receiving AET and cysteine prior to a whole-body x radiation of 800 r was observed. Five of six drug treated animals not only survived the 30 day period following exposure to 800 r, but were still alive and in apparent good health after 90 days following irradiation. In contrast, 5 of 7 unprotected animals died within l4 to l8 days following irradiation. A progressive decline in both leukocyte count and hematocrit was observed following x radiation in non-treated animals. In the protected animals, however, the degree of depression was less dramatic. No obvious effect of the drug was observed in the injected animals. In contrast, the noninjected animals presented the classical symptoms of radiation sickness. The results clearly demonstrate the practicality of protecting primates against 800 r administered during a period of l hr. (P.C.H.)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-16-017539
• OSTI ID: 4785510
• Journal Information: Nature, Journal Name: Nature Vol. Vol: 194
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ADRENAL GLANDS
ADRENALINE
AET
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD PRESSURE
CYSTEINE
DRUGS
HORMONES
LETHAL DOSE
LEUCOCYTES
LIFETIME
MONKEYS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIATION SICKNESS
X RADIATION