Evaluation of topically applied (AET) 2-aminoethyl-iso-thiouronium for radiation protection of the skin. A preliminary study in pigs.

AET (Aminoethyl-iso-thiouronium) was applied topically on irradiated pig skin in different vehicles (emulsions and solutions) for testing a protective effect. A simple normal saline solution (200 mg/100 ml) proved to exert the best effect, both macroscopically and histologically. The solution was applied two hours and immediately before the irradiation which consisted of one 2000 rad fraction with a 20 MeV electron beam. A protective effect was noticed only in the superficial epithelial layers, the deeper radiobiological effect remained unaltered.