Radioprotective effect of stobadine in the mouse micronucleus test

Induction of micronuclei was studied 40 h post irradiation in peripheral blood reticulocytes of male mice treated or not with stobadine dipalmitate (70.07 mg/kg body weight) at two time intervals (2 h or 1 h) prior to and immediately after 6.5 Gy 60Co exposure. A significant decrease of micronucleated reticulocytes was observed in the group of mice pretreated 2 h (P < 0.05) or 1 h (P < 0.01) before irradiation. 60Co irradiation followed by treatment with stobadine did not lead to the same protective effect in the micronucleus assay. It is therefore assumed that a radical-scavenging mechanism must be involved in radioprotection by stobadine.