[Radioprotective and antistressful properties of nitric oxide production modulators]

The radioprotective and antistressful activities of L-arginine and the "Pronumol" preparation, in which L-arginine is contained in the complex of proteins with nucleic acids, were studied. In mice repeated peroral intake of L-arginine and "Pronumol" partially prevented radiation-induced and stress-induced lipid peroxidation and DNA degradation in thymus, increased hemopoietic stem cell survival, and prevented an increase in chromosome aberration frequency in bone marrow cells of irradiated mice. When repeatedly administered per os before irradiation, "Pronumol" increased survival of intestinal stem cells in irradiated mice and prevented thymus cell devastation induced by radiation and stress.