[The importance of the external cell membrane and its thiols for realizing the radioprotective effect of anoxia].

In experiments with Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, using a specific thiol blocker, 6,6'-dithiodinicotinic acid, that does not penetrate the cell and therefore only binds SH-groups of peripheral areas of an external cell membrane, it was demonstrated that (1) the external cell membrane is the site where the radioprotective effect of anoxia (the oxygen effect) is realised (2) thiols of the external cell membrane contribute markedly to the oxygen effect, and (3) they are needed at both stages of its realization.