[Enhancement of the radioprotective action of gas-induced hypoxia by using dextran sulfate].

Mice of the strain (CBA X C57Bl) F1 injected with a single dose (40 mg.kg-1) of dextran sulphate (m.w. 5 X 10(5] were used to determine the survival rate after a lethal dose (13.0 Gy) of gamma irradiation, the number of haemopoietic stem cells in bone marrow (CFUs) and that of spleen endogenous colonies. Irradiation was performed in a hypobaric chamber at levels of 20%, 15%, 12% and 10% of the oxygen content. While in the control groups the levels of hypoxia showed a weak radioprotective effect in animals treated with DS, radioprotection was observed both in 10% O2 and in 15% O2. The animals treated exhibited a higher survival rate up to day 30 after irradiation, an elevated number of survived haemopoietic stem cells (CFUs) in the bone marrow, and increased number of endogenous spleen colonies, as compared with the control group. The potentiation of the radioprotective effect of hypoxia (10% O2) was observed till the end of observation (6th day after DS injection). The results obtained support an earlier observation that increased activity of haemopoiesis forms a convenient pool for the potentiation of the radioprotective efficiency of hypoxic hypoxia.