[Effectiveness of prostatylene in the prevention of decompression disease in an experiment]

Works done under elevated environmental pressures present a risk for decompression disease. The use of altitude chambers for its prevention and treatment is technically complex and expensive. The paper presents the results of studies into the effects of the new peptide regulator prostatylene isolated from the bovine prostate. Experiments were conducted on 132 albino noninbred male rats weighing 180-220 g. All the rats were divided into 10 groups by the dose (from 0.5 to 5.0 mg/kg) and frequency of prostatylene administration (1-11 days). The agent was injected in a single intramuscular dose. Altitude exposure was made in a 75-liter chamber provided by a chemical absorbent container. Air temperatures were constant (19-21 degrees C) humidity was no higher than 75%. A compressor was used to pump as high as 0.7 MPa. The duration of compression, isopression, and decompression was 3 min, 1 hour, and 80 sec, respectively. The percentage of rat deaths and the interval from the termination of decompression to death were used as an index for the efficacy of prostatylene. The preset altitude exposure led to 75% death in control rats. A single dose of prostatylene did not affect this index, but thrice preinjection of the agent showed as high as 25% animal death reductions. Its protective properties were shown when the agent was administered in a dose 1 mg/kg for 5 days. It is concluded that the prostate participates in the formation of nonspecific mechanisms of defense when the body is influenced by environmental factors and that prostatic peptides are able to prevent decompression disease in the experiment.