RADIOPROTECTIVE AGENTS. ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL ANTIRADIATION EFFECT OF NUCLEIC ACIDS OR THEIR PRECURSORS

Abstract

A total of nine compounds, including nucleic acids, purines, pyrimidines, and one nucleoside, were tested in vitro for activity as radioprotective agents. One agent which proved to be effective was yeast ribonucleic acid (RNA). Four others, which showed moderate potential, were calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), yeast DNA, orotic acid, and adenine. Guanine, xanthine, uracil, and deoxyadenosine had no protective effect in the test system. Yeast RNA was found to be relatively nontoxic to amnion cells over a 24-hr treatment period, but a chronic exposure of the cells to 0.5 mg./ml. for 6 days caused a decrease in the growth rate to about 52% of control cultures. Preirradiation treatment of seven different cell strains with 0.1 mg./ml. yeast RNA resulted in a widely variable protective response. Treated populations of nonmalignant origin showed more cells surviving 700 r gamma radiation than did untreated, irradiated control cultures. Malignant cellsincluding KB, HeLa, and Detroit 6 strain of bone marrow-showed no protective response. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0257295

Entities

People

  • Donald E. Rounds

Organizations

  • United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acids
  • Bone Marrow
  • Deoxyribonucleic Acids
  • Gamma Rays
  • Heterocyclic Acids
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Radiation
  • Radioprotective Agents
  • Ribonucleic Acids

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Parasitology and Pharmacology of Malaria.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology