title: Prevention of interphase death in rat thymocytes by bisulfite.
abstract: The effect of sodium bisulfite, a specific inhibitor of chromatin proteolysis, on radiation damage in rat thymocytes in vitro was examined. Rat thymocytes irradiated with 1 kR X rays in vitro were incubated at 37 degrees C with 10 mM glucose for 4 to 6 hr. During that time development of interphase death as judged by erythrosin B uptake, release of low molecular weight DNA (free DNA), and reduction in cell size was measured. Sodium bisulfite added to the cells at the beginning of incubation exerted a marked preventive effect on radiation damage. The effect was enhanced with increasing concentration of bisulfite from 0.25 to 2 mM. The effect of bisulfite was reversible; i.e., removal of bisulfite from the cells resulted in the reappearance of the radiation damage.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007399:Interphase; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013447:Sulfites / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013447:Sulfites; C009279:sodium bisulfite