Modification of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

Male rats received 25 Gy (2,500 rad) of gamma rays to the right hemithorax and were killed three or six months later. Microscopic pulmonary abnormalities developed sooner and progressed more rapidly in animals given control feed than in those given the collagen antagonist D-penicillamine (10 mg/day, p.o.). Three and four months after irradiation, hypoperfusion and radiographic hyperlucency of the right lung were observed in both the treated and control animals.