Effect of cycloheximide on skin and renal radiation tolerance in the rat

The effect of cycloheximide (CHM) on skin and renal radiation tolerance in the rat has been studied. When administered 24 hr prior to a range of single radiation doses to the hind limbs, the drug protected against skin damage. When administered at intervals of 45 min to 100 hr prior to single-dose irradiation of the kidneys, no protection against renal injury, as manifested by blood pressure, urine creatinine level, and lethality, was observed. CHM-induced alteration in the cell cycle may confer radioprotection to a rapidly proliferating cell renewal system such as the skin and exert no radioprotective action in slowly proliferative tissue such as kidney.