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Summary
The radioprotective activity of a number of biological amines, amongst them histamine and epinephrine, has been shown to be related to their pharmacological activity in mice. Pharmacological antagonists were found to counteract the protective activity of these compounds. The protective effect could not be correlated with the effects of the amines on the blood pressure.
By the use of a polarographic technique it could be shown that the protective compounds cause a decrease of the oxygen tension in the spleen, the magnitude and duration of which is correlated to the degree of radioprotection.
Similarly a reduction of the oxygen content of the inspiratory air reduces the oxygen tension in the spleen and affords protection against irradiation.
It is concluded that histamine, epinephrine and a number of other biological amines protect against irradiation by reducing the oxygen tension in the spleen and possibly in other blood forming organs.