In Vitro Radioprotection of Mouse Tail Bones by Dimethyl Sulphoxide, Glycerol and Anoxia

Summary

Tail bones from 7-day-old mice were irradiated in vitro by x-rays under oxygenated and anoxic conditions and in various concentrations of glycerol and dimethyl sulphoxide. After irradiation the bones were transplanted under the renal capsules of syngeneic animals and allowed to grow for three weeks. The relative growth in length of the irradiated and control bones was used to draw dose—response curves, from which radioprotective factors were assessed. The following radioprotective factors were found: oxygen 1·0; 2 molar glycerol 1·32; 2 molar DMSO 2·25; anoxia 2·65; anoxia plus 2 molar DMSO 3·23.