[Release of Extracellular DNA after Administration of Radioprotective Combination of α-Tocopherol and Ascorbic Acid]

Radioprotective and apoptotic activities of α-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) have been studied in 180 Wistar male rats. Rats were administered a single oral dose with vitamin E, vitamin C or their combination at prophylactic doses before or after the single whole body exposure to irradiation at the doses of 2 or 8 Gy. The radioprotective effect was evaluated by the frequency of chromosomal aberrations at metaphase plates of the bone marrow cells, apoptotic--by the level of circulating low-molecular-weight DNA (ImwDNA) in the blood plasma of irradiated rats. Administration of the combination of vitamins E and C before and after the irradiation at the dose of 2 Gy reduced the number of the cells with chromosomal aberrations thus providing the radioprotective effect, but separately administration of these vitamins did not show the significant radioprotective activity. Administration of the combination of vitamins E and C before irradiation with 8 Gy increased the lmwDNA in blood thus providing the apoptotic effect. So, synergy of radioprotective activities has been revealed in vitamins E and C action at prophylactic doses. Radioprotective effect of the combination of vitamins E and C can be associated with the apoptotic activity and can be explained by elimination of the least viable irradiated cells from the cell population.