Kimura H, Ikebuchi M, Nyaruba M M, Sugamoto K, Aoyama T, Sugahara T
Dept. Exptl. Radiol., Shiga Univ. Med. Sci., Japan.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1994 Jun 15;29(3):627-30. doi: 10.1016/0360-3016(94)90470-7.
The combined effects of immunomodulators (lithium or OK432) and an adrenochrome derivative (AMM), an agent found to activate granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating activity, on the survival of irradiated ddY mice is described.
ddY mice at 4-5 weeks old were whole body irradiated with X rays at 8.5 Gy. Sole injection and combined injection of AMM and/or one of the immunomodulators were performed before or after irradiation. Then, survival was monitored daily for 30 days after irradiation.
Lithium at 60 mg/kg had no radioprotective effect; rather it accelerated radiation induced death. Sole treatment with AMM (100 mg/kg) had no effect on survival of irradiated mice. However, combination of both drugs caused a slight radioprotection. OK432 (25 KE/kg), which activates a variety of cellular effector cells had radioprotective effect. When combined with AMM, however, it totally lost radioprotective effect.
Lithium chloride cannot be used as a radioprotector because of its adverse effect. Combination with AMM showed slight radioprotection, but the extent thereof may not be clinically useful. OK432 was proved to be a potent radioprotector. However, combination with AMM should be avoided, since the radioprotection was totally eliminated.