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Reduction in Lethal Effect of X-Radiation by Pretreatment with Thiourea or Sodium Ethane Dithiophosphonate

Abstract

DALE et al.1 showed that carboxypolypeptidase could be protected in vitro against X-radiation by a variety of substances. One of these, thiourea, is shown below to reduce the mortality following whole-body irradiation of mice. We also tried a few other substances, selected, like thiourea, in the hope that they would enter cells without being too toxic or too rapidly metabolized, and would protect by competing for hydroxyl radicals. The effect of sodium ethane-dithiophosphonate is of added interest because sodium ethane-monothiophosphonate protects weakly against the radiomimetic substance bis-chlorethyl sulphide (mustard gas)2.

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References

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MOLE, R., PHILPOT, J. & HODGES, G. Reduction in Lethal Effect of X-Radiation by Pretreatment with Thiourea or Sodium Ethane Dithiophosphonate. Nature 166, 515 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1038/166515a0

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