Protection Against Radiation Lethality

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions

Some 32% of the Swiss albino and 67% of the CF₁ male mice injected intraperitoneally with β-mercaptoethylamine (i.e., cysteinamine) prior to a lethal exposure of 700 r whole body x-irradiation survived the 30-day observation period. Some 97% of these are still alive 60 days after irradiation. The CF_i mice, exposed to the higher dose of 800 r after injection, showed 58% survival while the controls, receiving only 700 r, all died within 20 days. Thus prior injection of this compound definitely affords radiation protection to mice. Injection after x-irradiation, whether single or multiple, had an adverse effect on survival.