title: Protection and repair of gamma-radiation-induced lesions in mice with DNA or deoxyribonucleoside treatments.
abstract: Mice can survive lethal doses of ionizing radiation if deoxyribonucleosides or 'highly polymerized' salmon sperm DNA (Sigma) are administered 30 min to 24 h post-irradiation. DNA is more effective than deoxyribonucleosides in increasing the survival frequency. At supralethal exposures of gamma-irradiation, Deoxyribonucleosides and DNA are equally effective in reversing radiation damage which otherwise leads to chromosome breakage. The micronucleus frequencies in the polychromatic erythrocytes of bone marrow cells from DNA- or deoxyribonucleoside-treated mice were near the unirradiated control values. This reduction in chromosome breakage was approximately 4-fold when compared with the irradiated, saline-treated control. 'Highly polymerized' DNA protects against mortality if administered 48 and 24 h prior to irradiation. This is somewhat comparable to the effectiveness of the growth factors Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) administered prior to irradiation. With survival as criterion, the sensitivity of 4 lines of mice to gamma-irradiation is BALB/c > C3H/OuJ > or = C3H/HeJ > C57B1/6.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: U G
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Hennig
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: von Borstel
authors.forename: U G
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Henning
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000528:radiation effects; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004247:DNA / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004249:DNA Damage; D003853:Deoxyribonucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000378:metabolism; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D003853:Deoxyribonucleosides; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004247:DNA