title: In vivo radioprotective activities of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC).
abstract: Studies were performed to determine whether diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) protects against radiation damage to bone marrow, jejunal crypts, testicular tubules, hair follicles, tissues in the leg responsible for leg contractures, and a fibrosarcoma (FSA) of C3Hf/Kam mice. In most experiments, DDC at a dose of 400 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg body weight was given i.p. 30 minutes before single doses of gamma radiation. DDC (1000 mg/kg) given 30 minutes before whole-body irradiation protected hematopoietic stem cells by a factor (PF) of 1.59, as assessed by the LD50/30 assay, and by PFs of 1.32-1.55, as assessed by the endogenous spleen colony assay. A dose of 400 mg/kg DDC was less effective. Protection was also significant against hair loss and leg contractures; PFs produced by 1000 mg/kg DDC were 1.44 and 1.38-1.51, respectively. Jejunum was protected by 400 mg/kg DDC (PF = 1.2), but not by 1000 mg/kg. The opposite was observed with testis: 1000 mg/kg was protective (PF = 1.2), but not 400 mg/kg. DDC also protected the FSa tumor, either as lung micrometastases or as a solitary tumor in the leg. Both 400 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg DDC protected 4 day-old micrometastases by a PF of approximately 1.1. DDC at a dose of 1000 mg/kg protected 8 mm leg tumors by a PF of 1.24 at the TCD50 level. Therefore, DDC protected both normal tissues and FSA, but the degree of protection varied greatly. A therapeutic gain was achieved in some instances.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004050:Ditiocarb / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005121:Extremities / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013859:Thiocarbamates / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D013859:Thiocarbamates; D004050:Ditiocarb