title: Glycine betaine, a beer component, protects radiation-induced injury.
abstract: Human whole-blood was exposed to 137Cs gamma-rays or 50 keV/microm carbon ions in the presence or absence of glycine betaine, a beer component in vitro. The dicentrics of chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by glycine betaine after irradiation with 4 Gy of either gamma-rays or carbon ions. The maximum protection by glycine betaine for gamma-rays or carbon ions was 37% and 20%, respectively. C3H/He female mice, aged 14 weeks, received an i.p. injection of glycine betaine 15 min before whole-body irradiation with gamma-rays or 50 keV/microm carbon ions. Glycine betaine significantly (p < 0.05) increased the percent survival of irradiated mice with either gamma-rays or carbon ions. In conclusion, glycine betaine is a potent protector against damages caused by low- and high-LET radiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda-shi, Chiba, Japan. monobe@rs.noda.tus.ac.jp
authors.forename: Manami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monobe
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uzawa
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kojima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001515:Beer; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000187:drug effects*; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D020450:Heavy Ions / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D008136:Longevity / Q000528:radiation effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014930:Women
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D001622:Betaine