Drug Toxicity in Mice Exposed to Mixed Gamma-Neutron Radiations

Abstract

Summary

The acute toxicity (death within 24 hr) of 10 drugs representing four drug classes (anticonvulsants, hypnotics, hypoglycemics, and psychopharmacologics) was studied in irradiated male CF₁ mice 2 hr, 1 and 6 days after 500 rad; 2 hr and 1 day after 1000 rad; and 2 hr after 10,000 rad whole-body doses of mixed gamma-neutron radiations. The LD₃₀ value for each drug in irradiated mice was calculated and compared to the LD₅₀ value obtained in unirradiated controls. The LD₅₀ values for most drugs studied were altered significantly in some of the groups of irradiated mice. All drugs tended to be more toxic in irradiated mice on the sixth day following 500 rads. In general, the anticonvultants were more toxic in mice receiving 1000 and 10,000-rad doses, while the psychopharmacologics were less toxic in the mice receiving 1000 rads but more toxic in those receiving 10,000-rad doses.