Contribution to some radiobiological aspects of the investigation of radiosensitizers of hypoxic cells. Part IV: Radiosensitizing effect of metronidazole evaluated on the level of postirradiation changes of bone marrow cellularity in rats protected by induced hypoxia of lower body half.

Radiosensitizing effect of metronidazole (Entizol, Polfa, Poland) was tested on an experimental model of ischaemized bone marrow. The changes of bone marrow cellularity were recorded after whole body irradiation of rats protected with abdomen compression during irradiation. With an increasing dose of irradiation proportional and significant decrease of nuclear elements in bone marrow occurred the third day after irradiation. Metronidazole administered to unprotected rats (without compression) did not show any effect. The abdomen compression led to a pronounced radioprotection but metronidazole administration reduced this effect significantly. Ischaemization of the lower half of rat body produced on the level of bone marrow cellularity the protection corresponding to DRF (dose reduction factor) = 1.96 the third day after irradiation. DRF value decreased to 1.52 by metronidazole application which corresponds to ER (enhancement ratio) = 1.29.