Radioresponse of postnatal erythrocytes and its modification by MPG (2-mercaptopropionylglycine) in mice exposed to gamma radiation in utero.

Gamma radiation (150 R) was given in utero at different gestation days, namely 14 1/4, 16 1/4 and 18 1/4, to Swiss albino mice, pretreated with either MPG or double distilled water. Erythrocytes from peripheral blood were counted in young ones at 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after birth. The result indicated that erythrocyte count in the MPG treated group was significantly higher than in the unprotected ones at 1 and 2 weeks of postnatal development, after which the values of both control and experimental groups were comparable to that of the normal.