Protection of monkeys against prolonged gamma-irradiation.

The radioprotective effect of the Bulgarian drug Adeturone was tested on prolonged irradiated monkeys. The animals were gamma-irradiated (137Cs) in a dose of 8.3 Gy (exposure rate 3.95 X 10(-3) mA.kg-1; (0.92 R.min-1]. Adeturone, given by i.v. injection at a dose of 100 mg.kg-1 body weight according to a pre- and postradiation scheme will afford protection to monkeys by ensuring 50% survival and mitigating the severity of some symptoms of radiation disease. A similar effect was obtained with ATP-administration by two i.m. injections of 37 mg.kg-1 body weight. The survival in control group was only 5% (LD95/45).