Trehalose dimycolate enhances survival of fission neutron-irradiated mice and Klebsiella pneumoniae-challenged irradiated mice.
The survival of B6D2F1 female mice exposed to lethal doses of fission neutron radiation is increased when trehalose dimycolate (TDM) preparations are given either 1 h after exposure or 1 day before exposure to radiation. TDM in an emulsion of squalene, Tween 80, and saline was the most effective formulation for increasing the 30-day survival of mice when given 1 day before (90%) or 1 h after (88%) exposure to radiation. An aqueous suspension of a synthetic analog of TDM was less effective at increasing 30-day survival (60%) when given 1 day prior to radiation exposure and not effective when given 1 h after radiation. Mice receiving a sublethal dose (3.5 Gy) of fission neutron radiation and either the TDM emulsion or synthetic TDM 1 h after irradiation were substantially more resistant to challenge with 10, 100, 1000, or 5000 times the LD50/30 dose of Klebsiella pneumoniae than untreated mice.
Department of Experimental Hematology, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-5145.
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McChesney
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Ledney
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Madonna
D000818:Animals; D003311:Cord Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae; D051379:Mice; D009502:Neutrons; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*
D003311:Cord Factors; D006017:Glycolipids