[Indralin--a novel effective radioprotector during irradiation by high-energy protons]

Experiments with 120 mongrel dogs were aimed at the assessment of radio protective strength of indralin and local shielding of the pelvic marrow from 2.5 Gy, and also their concurrent use for the dogs irradiated by protons (240 MeV) at absolutely lethal and over-lethal 4 Gy and 5 Gy. Clinical observations, hematological investigations and ECG analysis of survived animals were conducted 4.5 years post the irradiation. Dogs that remained healthy following 3.5 to 4.5 years since the irradiation were sacrificed for pathomorphological investigations. The radioprotective effect of local shielding against 4 Gy was weak while this effect of intramuscular indralin (10, 20, 40 mg/kg of body) was significant reaching 50 to 67.7%. The concurrent use of two methods had, apparently, potentiated the 100% radioprotection of the animals irradiated by overlethal 5 Gy. Blood investigations of the survived dogs every 2-4 months evidenced that complete recovery of the total leukocyte count had taken 9 to 13 months. Also, dogs' pregnancy in 9-10 months since the beginning of irradiation pointed to maintenance of fertility and the ability to parturiate 2 or 3 times yielding 5-6 live cubs. Necropsy of the dogs did not reveal gross macroscopic structural changes of visceral organs or tissues. Seven out of 27 sacrificed dogs had benign tumors infrequent in intact dogs at this age.