title: Treatment of irradiated mice with high-dose ascorbic acid reduced lethality.
abstract: Ascorbic acid is an effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Therefore, it is expected that ascorbic acid should act as a radioprotectant. We investigated the effects of post-radiation treatment with ascorbic acid on mouse survival. Mice received whole body irradiation (WBI) followed by intraperitoneal administration of ascorbic acid. Administration of 3 g/kg of ascorbic acid immediately after exposure significantly increased mouse survival after WBI at 7 to 8 Gy. However, administration of less than 3 g/kg of ascorbic acid was ineffective, and 4 or more g/kg was harmful to the mice. Post-exposure treatment with 3 g/kg of ascorbic acid reduced radiation-induced apoptosis in bone marrow cells and restored hematopoietic function. Treatment with ascorbic acid (3 g/kg) up to 24 h (1, 6, 12, or 24 h) after WBI at 7.5 Gy effectively improved mouse survival; however, treatments beyond 36 h were ineffective. Two treatments with ascorbic acid (1.5 g/kg × 2, immediately and 24 h after radiation, 3 g/kg in total) also improved mouse survival after WBI at 7.5 Gy, accompanied with suppression of radiation-induced free radical metabolites. In conclusion, administration of high-dose ascorbic acid might reduce radiation lethality in mice even after exposure.
authors: Military Medicine Research Unit, Test and Evaluation Command, Ground Self-Defense Force, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Tomohito
authors: T
authors: Sato
authors: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
authors: Manabu
authors: M
authors: Kinoshita
authors: Military Medicine Research Unit, Test and Evaluation Command, Ground Self-Defense Force, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Tetsuo
authors: T
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Department of Developmental Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
authors: Masataka
authors: M
authors: Ito
authors: Military Medicine Research Unit, Test and Evaluation Command, Ground Self-Defense Force, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Takafumi
authors: T
authors: Nishida
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Takeuchi
authors: Division of Traumatology, Research Institute, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
authors: Daizoh
authors: D
authors: Saitoh
authors: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
authors: Shuhji
authors: S
authors: Seki
authors: Military Medicine Research Unit, Test and Evaluation Command, Ground Self-Defense Force, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Yasuo
authors: Y
authors: Mukai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
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